American Idol

American Idol is down to three. Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Danny Gokey will battle one more week before the finale after Allison Iraheta was eliminated during rock ‘n’ roll week.

Allison has been the teenager with the big vocals throughout the contest, but her downfall has been not being able to show her personality. The singer’s style and charisma has been shining through in the last few weeks. It was too little too late, though.

Certainly the female with the most talent this season, Allison definitely will have a career after Idol. As with many young singers from the show, she has age on her side. With the exposure, she has a solid group of fans. Now she just has to focus on what will make her the personality that matches her big talent.

Rock week, with guest mentor Slash, was meant for two of the Top 4 American Idol finalists. The other two — Kris Allen and Danny Gokey — were expected to struggle. And that’s exactly what happened. At this point in the contest, it really is any contestant’s game to win.

But here’s how I’d rank the final four:

1. Adam Lambert. Who is anyone kidding? Win or lose, he certainly will be the most successful finalist this season. He has vocal styling and a confidence that makes him seem like he’s performing behind several multi-platinum albums.

2. Allison Iraheta. She got a little negative feedback for choosing a Janis Joplin tune, but Allison got it right. She showed more confidence than she has in the past, and her incredible vocals certainly shined through tonight. Simon was right on one thing — her Slow Ride duet with Adam certainly may have saved her this week. Allison truly rocked out that performance.

3. Kris Allen. Not his genre. No question about it. But Kris didn’t produce too much of a train wreck. I give him props — and the third-place spot — because of his mad guitar skills. At least he knew to bring out his instrumental talent to try and distract from his otherwise mediocre vocal showing.

4. Danny Gokey. He’s dead last, and not just because I don’t like his voice. That last note was, er, a complete disaster. I haven’t heard anything that terrible since Megan Joy was in the contest. Sorry, Danny. You need to go. Fortunately for you, America seems to love you more than the others. Danny is the only contestant not to hit the bottom three this season.

American Idol has shocked contestants with many surprise celebrity guest mentors. But who would lead Rat Pack Week? Jamie Foxx, of course.

In a brilliant move by the show producers, having the multi-talented Foxx work with the contestants really seemed to pay off. It’s been no secret this crop of Idol finalists has been the best as far as consistently talented singers. And tonight was the perfect example, making it a little difficult to rank their performances beyond the No. 1 spot.

Still, I’ll try my best.

1. Adam Lambert. Even though Randy called his performances a little too theatrical (thankfully Simon pointed out the obvious — that’s what Adam does), Adam was spot-on with his rendition of Feelin’ Good. He made a grand entrance down the staircase, wearing a spiffy white suit and knocking down the doors for all to envy when it came to entertainment value. Adam has the confidence, the talent and the overall “it” factor. Week after week, he just brings it.

2. Allison Iraheta. Simon warns she may be in trouble, basically saying she lacks the personality of the four remaining guys. While I see what he’s saying, strip down everything aside from vocals and Allison is interesting. And incredibly talented. She sang Someone to Watch Over Me, offering a softer side. Honestly, it’s my favorite performance by the youngest remaining finalist.

3. Kris Allen. He’s soft and quiet, but that works for Kris. Jamie Foxx said he’d team up with Kris no matter the outcome of the show — does that make him the A-lister’s favorite? — and Kris seemed genuinely surprised. He even alluded to the fact he believes he is the weakest vocalist left standing. But I disagree. Kris performed The Way You Look Tonight the way he always does, with a quiet and calming confidence. It’s soothing, and I could listen to an entire album of such tunes.

4. Danny Gokey. I still don’t really love his voice, but Danny can sing. Personally, I want him to go. But based on this week alone, I think he’s going to be sticking around. In fact, many people — including at least two of the judges — think he’ll be going head-to-head with Adam Lambert for the title. Jamie’s advice for Danny certainly helped him work it out with his rendition of Come Rain Come Shine.

5. Matt Giraud. This definitely was Matt’s week to shine, and I think this probably was his best performance on the show. So, why is he ranked at the bottom? For me, this week really proved everyone else really does have more vocal talent than Matt. I think he’s great, but his version of My Funny Valentine was a little too overworked. He tried a few too many runs and got a little too deep into showcasing his vocals to make it a completely smooth Rat Pack-inspired knockout.

This week on American Idol, we turned to disco with the Top 7 finalists. Wait? Top 7? But I thought … yeah, yeah. We get it. Matt Giraud was saved by the judges last week and given a second shot. (Sorry, I just don’t think the “judges’ save” is a great enhancement to this season’s competition.) But I digress.

The remaining finalists chose their favorite tunes from Donna Summer — or the disco divas and dudes of their choice — to try and impress America. But two contestants must go. Lil Rounds and Danny Gokey, please. Before I get ahead of myself, let me explain. Here are my rankings for this week’s performances.

1. Adam Lambert. As if you had any doubt, Adam knocked it out of the park, again. This guy is still leaps ahead of his competition for the overall performance factor. He’s the best singer. He has the most individual vocal style. And he just gets it. This week, once again, he made a disco song sound like something we’ve never heard before.

2. Kris Allen. Consistency has been key for Kris. He’s coming at us week after week doing his own thing. He has the musical talent to make any annoying theme week (i.e. disco) seem a lot less annoying. Kris should have stumbled this week, if he ever would have stumbled, but he soared.

3. Allison Iraheta. This order is starting to look familiar, I realize. But Allison has the vocal talent, and her personality is starting to shine. The truth is, in reality, Allison’s disco week performance lacked appeal. But you have to blame the theme and not the talent.

4. Matt Giraud. The judges were a little tough on Matt. I’m not sure why people aren’t hearing the voice. It’s there. And it’s solid. Again, I say ignore the theme and pay attention to the vocals. Matt’s luck of being saved next week likely will have helped him get a few extra votes from his fans in Kalamazoo and elsewhere around the nation. Expect to see him for at least one more week.

5. Anoop Desai. He’s an interesting singer. Good, no doubt. But Anoop just isn’t bringing the wow factor of the three best in the contest — Adam, Kris and Allison. The overall performances are not consistent, and this was no exception.

6. Danny Gokey. Paula thinks his voice is sexy and that all women, no matter the age, would agree. I’m not sure what Paula is hearing — is anyone, really? — but Danny needs to go. His story is sweet. His voice isn’t terrible. But the next American Idol he is not … not even close. Unfortunately, people still are going to vote for him because they are expected to like him.

7. Lil Rounds. I don’t know what happened between the time she auditioned — she was expected to be the one to beat at one point — but Lil just hasn’t brought any sizzle. She tried to bring on the fun factor this week, but it was hokey. And cheesy. And not good at all.

So, who should go? Danny and Lil. Who will go? Probably Anoop and Lil.

Small screen goes big screen. It’s becoming a classic theme for American Idol. Quentin Taranteno was the guest mentor this week, as Idol’s remaining seven singers belted out tunes made famous by Hollywood films. Overall, it was a pretty uneventful show. There were no real surprises, and my rankings this week didn’t get shaken up too much.

Here they are

1. Adam Lambert. I almost gave another singer the honors this week (Sorry, Kris), but you can’t deny the insane amount of entertainment value Adam brings to the stage. And that voice. It’s enough to make Susan Boyle jealous!

2. Kris Allen. Week. After. Week. Arkansas has a reason to be proud with Kris Allen in this competition. He’s definitely going to have a post-Idol music career.

3. Allison Iraheta. She still has me saying, “Is Allison really only 16?” Sure, so was Jordin Sparks. Allison just has a different vibe, and it’s quite cool.

4. Anoop Desai. Judges often are mixed on Anoop’s talent. Deep down, it’s in there. And Anoop is bringing it to the center of the Idol stage. Much like the contestant I’ve ranked at No. 5 this week, Anoop is struggling to get a really strong following.

5. Matt Giraud. This definitely wasn’t the best performance from Matt. But it’s a solid performance, none the less. This Kalamazoo, Mich., contestant has struggled to gain the fans like some of his male counterparts, but he certainly has talent. Now it’s all down to timing.

6. Danny Gokey. I’m over it. Seriously, folks.

7. Lil Rounds. I hate to see Lil go down like this. She’s certainly a strong talent, but she hasn’t hit her stride in the show.

Songs from the year you were born. Ready, go.

It certainly is a favorite American Idol theme — if for no other reason than the baby photos — and it ended with the best still being the best and the worst still being the worst. Some really stepped up their game, like Anoop, and others, like Kris Allen, have fallen a couple of spots.

1. Adam Lambert. Whether you’re sick of seeing him at the top of the list or not, there’s no question at this point Adam already is an artist. He is the Idol. His rendition of Mad World was as brilliant as anything he does. I do think some people may be confused by the song, especially younger viewers who aren’t familiar, but Simon did give him a standing ovation. And I think we know that’s serious business. (Has that even happened before?)

2. Matt Giraud. Leaps and bounds better than many others tonight, Matt made some things happen with Part-Time Lover. If we really evaluated the performance against the greatest in the show’s history, it wouldn’t stand a chance. But, was it entertaining? Check. Was it upbeat? Check. And that’s sometimes what it takes to really get fans excited.

3. Allison Iraheta. The judges are right. She does lack some of that charm many of the other contestants — especially Kris Allen — have this season. But what Allison lacks in the on-stage charisma department she way more than makes up for in the vocals. Bonnie Raitt? That was a perfect choice for her. (Plus, we share a birthday, and that has to be worth something)

4. Anoop Desai. It’s about time. Taking on Cyndi Lauper was a brilliant choice. There’s no way he could be compared to the original, which was the broken-record response we have heard a lot this season. Big props to Anoop for showing his True Colors. He may never climb to the top of the pack, but this performance should save him for another week.

5. Kris Allen. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the judges said. I’m not sure why they threw the smack down on Kris. No, it wasn’t nearly as great as his past couple of weeks, but he still is quite a ways above his contenders.

6. Lil Rounds. Why others can get away with things the judges knock Lil for, I’ll never know. Was it the greatest rendition? No. Can Lil really sing? Yes. And it was obvious, even with tonight’s somewhat copycat performance of Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do With It? This also would be the appropriate place for me to say, especially to Kara DioGuardi, could you please stop repeating the “we’re looking for an artist” to other contestants and not mentioning it to Danny Gokey?

Speaking of …

7. Danny Gokey. Oh. My. Ugh. Please, let’s get real here. Danny’s voice is none too pleasant. It’s screechy and whiny and, I’m going to keep saying it, I think the judges are only being nice to him for sympathetic reasons. Because I’ve watched this show for a long, long time, and Danny just doesn’t have anything that special to keep him in the competition. If he stays much longer, he can thank his story … and that’s it.

8. Scott MacIntyre. Again, please stop being nice to Scott just because he has “challenges,” as has been mentioned. Tonight’s performance, where Scott oh-so-”bravely” stepped out from behind the piano to “play” the guitar and painfully scratch through The Search Is Over, is further proof he needs to go. Scott missed more notes than Michigan State missed inside jumpers at Monday’s NCAA championship game. It was horrible. Please, I’m begging … make it stop.

America ended the American Idol run for Megan Joy Corkrey this week, leaving eight contestants left to battle for the show’s eighth title.

Megan was joined in the bottom three by finalists Anoop Desai and Allison Iraheta. The judges still have the power to save one contestant from going home after America’s vote. Simon told Megan, who earlier had said she didn’t care what he had said, there was no way the judges would consider saving her.

Simon did say there was one contestant from the bottom three worth saving. That singer, most likely, was Allison Iraheta.

Wednesday’s results show also featured knockout performances from the reining Idol champ, David Cook, and chart-topping artist Lady GaGa.

They got to choose from just about every popular song made. Some chose extremely current tunes — Matt Giraud — and some, like Adam Lambert, chose songs a few decades old.

It seems my opinion and that of the American Idol judges were a little off last night. At least one or two contestants took a verbal beating when, in fact, a couple of others got praise that just wasn’t deserved. After rewatching the performances, here are this week’s rankings, according to me:

1. Kris Allen. No question this Arkansas native has come into his own in the last couple weeks of competition. He closed the show on the keyboard and really did make a moment, as he had hoped. During the audition rounds of Season 8, Kris really never stood out too much (ala Kelly Clarkson), but when it really counts — right now — he’s nailing it.

2. Adam Lambert. In all actuality, Adam is leaps and bounds above all of the other contestants. Whether you like his style or not, he knows the artist he wants to be, he has a vocal range unlike anyone and he constantly surprises the audience with incredibly entertaining performances. And they’re always in tune and on key. As I’ve said before, he should win the show.

3. Allison Iraheta. The judges gave her too much grief about the outfit she was wearing. The contestants do have a choice in what they wear, but there is a team of stylists pushing them in a certain direction. And this is a singing competition, as Simon has pointed out many, many times. When you take away the visual elements, Allison has some real, raw talent. Covering No Doubt? There are few people who could do that without it being a complete wreck.

4. Matt Giraud. There’s no question Matt has talent. But the judges have been far too harsh on this piano-playing performer. There’s nothing wrong with performing The Fray. Could he have made a bigger splash with One Republic? Sure. But there was not a single thing wrong with the performance this Michigan native gave for the Idol audience. Hopefully true Matt fans will scoop him out of the bottom three after last week’s shocking vote. He deserves to stick around.

5. Danny Gokey. What? Danny Gokey isn’t higher on the list? No, he isn’t. Admittedly, after watching the performances again, the Rascal Flatts cover wasn’t as bad as I thought. But it was nothing more than mediocre. It was a good move by Danny to play the sympathy card, even if it wasn’t spoken aloud, but the judges gave far too much praise for what just wasn’t that great of a showing. Danny is far from the best in this competition, yet he’s being treated as the one to beat. I just don’t see it.

6. Lil Rounds. Again, the judges harped on Lil for no good reason. She sang Celine Dion, and did it without faltering. Just because she can doesn’t mean she should sing Mary J. Blige. If you can successfully belt out some Celine, then go for it. There’s no doubt the judges were more harsh on Lil than anyone else last night, and it was not deserved. At all.

7. Anoop Desai. I will agree with the judges that Anoop chose the wrong song this week. He may want to be an R&B singer, but I’ve heard him do better tunes than the Usher track he chose. It was not an Anoop performance we will remember. I definitely think … no, I know … he has more to offer in the competition. So, c’mon, Anoop. Bring your A game.

8. Scott MacIntyre. Good grief. Undeserved praise continues for Scott, who just doesn’t have a pleasant voice for recording. But, because his Billy Joel knockoff wasn’t as big of a disaster as previous performances, the judges praise him for being some kind of superstar. It’s time for Scott to go, but not until …

9. Megan Joy. Ugh. Please just make it stop. Kara was right in suggesting Megan choose Adele’s Chasing Pavement. She’s lucky to have skated through this far. Bye, bye, please.

This isn’t the first time I’ve said it, and it won’t be the last. Just give Adam Lambert the American Idol Season 8 title, already.

Further proving his staying — and pop stardom — power last night with his rendition of guest mentor Smokey Robinson’s The Tracks of My Tears, Lambert came out leaps and bounds and jumps and turns ahead of his competition. The Broadway singer threw down an acoustic version of the jam, completely made it his own. And, on top of that, he slicked his wild hair back, stripped his nails of polish and put on a spiffy suit. Now that’s how it’s done.

What was expected to be — and was for much of the two-hour show — a highlight episode of this season, Motown week tripped up at least one of the top female singers and, almost certainly, locked in the fact it will be a male singer taking the title this year. (Adam Lambert, people. Adam Lambert.)

As it stands, here are the Top 5 contestants:

1. Adam Lambert: He has made some interesting risks throughout the early episodes, but he has not done anything that wasn’t wildly his own.  Judges often look for that defining moment, and Adam had his defining moment this week. I don’t know about you, but I hit rewind on my DVR three times to hear the hair-raising rendition of  The Tracks of My Tears. This will be the first time Ryan Seacrest’s pleas to download the iTunes versions will be considered a direct order followed by me.

2. Allison Iraheta: She hasn’t been a favorite for me, but I certainly think she has the pipes. Plus, she’s only 16 … and that means something in a contest like Idol. Based on age, she should have a lot to learn. But that doesn’t seem to be the case with Allison. I sometimes think she needs to focus on her phrasing, but Motown week threw her way in front of female contender Lil Rounds.

3. Kris Allen: Arkansas has something to be proud of in this multi-talented musician. Each week he’s creeping up on the competition. I don’t think he has the gusto to take it to the end, but Kris certainly will have a recording career long after the Idol lights go dark. His soothing vocals are mixed with sweet and tender moments that make you just want to relax and have his music on in the background.

4. Matt Giraud: I may be on my own with this ranking, but I had a feeling Matt would step it up this week. And he did. We know he can rock the piano (much better than anyone else in this year’s competition), but Matt stepped up from the bench and showed he can entertain a packed house without having to hide behind the keys. Week after week, he is improving. I expect that could continue to be the case for his remaining weeks.

5. OK, after my Top 4, I can only say I feel the next three contestants are a toss-up. It could be Danny Gokey or Anoop Desai. I’d even say Lil Rounds, but she really butchered last night … and that was expected to be her defining moment.

Danny has some talent, yes, but it’s his “I lost my young wife” bit that will carry him through. Earlier this season, I would have imagined he could possibly win the contest. But if he does at this point, it’s purely on sympathy. Sorry, Danny fans. He’s just not anywhere near the best new, exciting recording artist that could come from this season.

As far as Anoop, I think, much like Kris, he is having to prove his place in the contest. I wasn’t quite as excited by his Motown performance as the judges, though it did prove he has some skills that weren’t yet revealed. Unfortunately for Anoop, he doesn’t have a tragic story to carry him through too far.

Lil, I thought, was the only female contestant to pay attention to this season. Then Allison caught my ear. And Lil quickly became another Top 10 contestant to forget about in no time. She is like Brooke White in the way she certainly has some talent, but she’s not quite big enough to take the entire show by storm. Lil will never have that Fantasia Barrino moment where emotions run wild as she belts out Summertime and blows away her competition. Her chance was this week, and she missed it by doing a much-too-fast rendition of Heatwave.

As far as the rest of the pack, Scott MacIntyre is not talented enough for Idol. His story has gotten him this far, not at all his talent, and that’s the only thing that will keep him in the contest. If you want to hear piano playing that’s worth a listen, tune in for more of Matt Giraud.

And the other two Top-10ers, Michael Sarver and Megan Joy Corkrey, are just buying time. One of them will, or should, go home this week. The other should go next week, or directly after Scott. My thought is that America may send Michael home this week, but I really think it’s Megan’s time to go. She can use the time to practice her Corinne Bailey Rae playlist for the summer tour. Because that’s what she does best.