Idol Chatter - Handicapping the Top 10

With an extra day before the Top 10 performs this week, I was asked for my opinion about who I thought will contend for the Idol crown. Here's what I wrote:

• Danny Gokey has been one of my favorites from the start. Even without his tragic storyline, he is a great singer and when he get's going on a song, it is pure magic.


• Lil Rounds had an off night during Country week, but should be back in her comfort zone this week with songs from the Motown songbook. I like her powerful voice and her pure R&B sound.


• Adam Lambert is fun to watch. I was watching last week's performance show with the family the other night and was struck by how Elvis-like Adam is--from the jet-black hair to the way he looks at the audience and seducing all of us just like Elvis...it is EERIE!


• Scott MacIntyre is a great talent. Forget that he is legally blind--this guy is a great piano player and has good enough singing chops to make a strong run for the title. He does need to do better with song selection, but overall, he's a winner.


• Matt Giraud is the black horse in the race. He plays the piano effortlessly, has a really nice voice, and is the second coming of Justin Timberlake--right down to the tight 'fro and two-day facial hair. I like Matt alot and am pretty sure he will be around for a while.

The rest of the Top 10 are good, but I don't expect them to make much of a push:

• Kris Allen could break into the Top 5. He certainly surprised me last week--and who can deny him now that he has a new nickname, Tender Dogg, courtesy of the original Dawg, Randy Jackson?!


• Anoop "Dogg" Desai is fun to watch when he's on, but I fear he may be a bit inconsistent and song selection is going to play a huge role in his success or failure.


• Allison has a big voice, but I haven't fallen in love with her just yet--and I'm not sure I'm going to do so.


• Megan Joy is another entertaining watch--interesting voice, awkward moves, and the crowd loves her, so she should be around for a few more shows before her voice completely becomes her undoing.


• Michael Sarver is another good story--who goes from oil rigger to pop icon? No one and that is why he won't win the contest. But I like his voice--as long as he is singing, not what he did last week which was more Country-rap. As with a number of the remaining contestants, song selection isn't his strong suit. But he's still around, so he must have a fan base.

Those are my thoughts. As the list of candidates gets whittled down, I'll get a little more attached to one or two (or three) singers, but for now, I can only talk about my fav five.

Tune in Wednesday to hear them sing and Thursday to watch one more Idol walk the plank back to reality.

Until then, I'll continue watching TV so you don't have to....