Idol Chatter: The Live Blog #11: The Top 5 (Frank Sinatra).

[I wanted to do this last season, but I got the idea a few episodes too late. I do admit, I watch American Idol. I really didn't start until a couple years ago, though (my mom was a much bigger fan). Similar in style to the Live Survivor Blog over at Blog Cabins, Idol Chatter (pun and all) will be a play by play of the episodes and what I think of what's happening. For those that don't know, just continually refresh this page to get new updates as the show goes on.]

For what is probably the third time, my internet decides, right before I have to start the live blog, to not function properly. Thankfully, however, it's up and operational now. Anyway, we're down to the final 5... and it's Frank Sinatra night. Prepare for a bunch of "That was so old fashioned" comments. And Harry Connick Jr. is the mentor. I think Siobhan would have done amazing this week... oh well.

7:00: Harry Connick Jr.: "This... is American Idol."

7:02: Wow... usually when Ryan asks "Who's your favorite?" to the audience, it's just a jumbled reply of "I really can't understand any of it." But pretty much everybody was screaming "LEE!" Wow.

7:03: No, Harry... It's MYRIAD WAYS. Not "myriad OF ways." The "of" is built in. OK, I'm done.

7:05: Interesting. Harry Connick Jr. (hereon in redubed HCJ) is not only mentoring for the contestants, but writing their compositions (how the band is going to play the songs, etc.). So if the judges have any complaints to how the song sounds, they only have the mentor to blame.

7:11: Aaron is up first. Oh wow, I'm already disliking it. He just started singing a note and it made my ears hurt. And then HCJ was like "What you're singing doesn't make sense" (key-wise). And that's just the rehearsal video with the mentor. He's doing "Fly Me To The Moon." Here's goes the real thing.

7:13: Ick... the actual performance isn't faring well, either. He's really pitchy. It sounds terrible. Imagine a Jonas Brother trying to do Sinatra... and doing it horribly (like, even for a Jonas Brother). You'll get a general idea of what this is like.

7:15: WHAT? Randy said he did a really good job. Are you kidding me? Ellen makes a joke about HCJ's piano playing. She thinks he really pulled it off. WHAT? Kara didn't think it was as strong as last week (which was also horrendous)... and says that he'll be back next week? I certainly hope not. Simon is more with Kara. He says if Sinatra were a lion, Aaron was a mouse... but people seem to like him. These judges are crazy. That was awful.

7:22: We're back with Casey. And apparently last week, his friend called him up for a 50-dollar gig and was unaware Casey was on Idol. Funny. HCJ is a jokester. And he likes Casey's groove. Oh, and he's singing "Blue Skies."

7:24: I'm liking this one so far. Typical Casey bluesy feel. Overall, really good. Not the typical Casey.

7:25: Randy thought it was his worst performance... yeah, these judges are crazy. Ellen makes another HCJ joke. But she thought his performance was very stiff. Kara says he sounds like a lamb with his vibrato. Simon didn't think he was fantastic and thought he was embarrassed/awkward. And HCJ chimes in and says that Casey did better in rehearsal. Interesting. But hey, I'm so glad they're getting the opinion of the mentor. They're listening to me!

Note: Maybe I just wasn't listening very closely (as I was typing this up). I'll give them the first note was pitchy and off, and he does have the lamb vibrato. But I didn't think it was all that bad. But then again, I guess I might not have been fully focused on the song.

7:33: Random Anthony Hopkins sighting. Wow... horribly shameless Coca-Cola plug. Anyway, Crystal is up. She'll do great, I'm sure. She's singing "Summer Wind."

7:34: She looks fantastic in the dress, first of all. But her singing is even more fantastic. But what else is new?

7:36: Randy thought it was OK, but sleepy. LAME. Ellen thought she needed to loosen up more, but that overall she's really impressive. Kara: "It's out of your element, but I kinda liked it." Simon thought the second half of the song was better, but that's she's only had 2 OK weeks. Bleh. Whatevs, yo.

7:43: Big Mike is up. He should do well tonight. This seems right up his alley. Let's just hope I can actually care. But he's saying it's a "dancing" song, so I have hopes. He's doing "The Way You Look Tonight."

7:44: Vocally good, as usual. But it's still one of those 'mid-tempo' songs. And I'm not really tempted to get up and dance (no worries). But I do give him credit that it's one of his better performances as of late... and probably one of the better ones of the night. But it's been a pretty mediocre night, so that doesn't say all that much.

7:47: Randy loved it ("Mike is in it to win it"). Ellen says he seems to have the most comfort on stage... and she thought the whole thing was really good. Kara says he did everything right. Simon essentially just said Mike's was the best performance of the night. Let's just hope that the next performance blows them all out of the water.

7:54: Lee! He's singing "That's Life." HCJ says Lee reminds him of a new and improved version of him. And he loves him. HCJ is hilarious.

7:55: Starting off really well. And it's continuing very well. I'll go so far as to say this is the best of the night... saving the best for last.

7:56: Randy loved it. Ellen was distracted by Harry's "organ" (instrument). She says that if this was the last night of performances, he would have just won the whole thing. I can agree with that. Kara asks Lee if he thinks he can win. He says yes, and she says he can win this thing. Simon says that HCJ managed to help bring out Lee's personality and that it was, by far, the best performance of the night. For once tonight, I agree with the judges. Man, HCJ should be the mentor every week (just for his humor).

7:59: The Recap. Aaron is still bad. I still don't think Casey is pitchy... though he is lamb-ish. Crystal is still really good. Big Mike is good. Lee is excellent.

Final Thoughts: I'm thinking a Bottom 3 of Aaron, Casey, and Mike, with Aaron going home (runner-up leaver, Casey). We'll see.