American Idol 7: Ranking the Top 3 – The End of the Road

Jason is gone.

Thank whatever higher power you believe in! The only person more relieved to hear Syesha being proclaimed safe was probably Syesha herself! The situation was prime for a travesty – that being Jason making the final three. The last time Simon told someone to start making flight reservations at this stage, Jasmine Trias slipped past LaToya London to make the semis.

While Jasmine was outclassed, she wasn’t anywhere near as bad as Jason was Tuesday night. That kind of disaster is like a bugle call to a fan base. Many people were thinking that fan base would dial to his rescue, whether he deserved rescuing or not. Fortunately, it wasn’t enough.

There are even reports that Simon believes Jason la-la-la’d through part of “Tambourine Man” on purpose! In interviews, Jason is saying that while he didn’t want to eliminated, he’s not exactly devastated. He says when the contestants were required to do two songs, he was having real trouble connecting with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond’s works. (We could see that lack of connection as clearly as we could see those tacky new Coke cups!) Maybe that explains what the heck happened.

For someone who started off with so much buzz, and for a couple of weeks was the talk of Idol, things sure went up in smoke. Oops, I went there.

On with the rankings! Remember that the number in parentheses is where I had them each ranked last week:

1. (3) David Archuleta – He’s baaaaack! In my prediction article with David Bloomberg, I said David A. would be back on his game. Man, was he ever! The kid is good. On a night when David Cook was below his own bar, Syesha was fighting to survive, and Jason was caught in quicksand, David A. absolutely sparkled. I think he surprised some people with his command on “Stand By Me.” And the way the camera adorned him as he gently pleaded to be loved with his green eyes twinkling in the dim was exactly the kind of thing to get those little pink cellphones smoking!

   He was given the pimp spot and made the absolute best of it. Though I joke about it, I think his fan base is far bigger than squealing teenaged girls. His appeal is cross-generational. Little ones to grandmas are pulling for him. Through the last few weeks, David A. has been solid. Tuesday night he was special again. He knows the finish line is in sight and he has four on the floor.




2. (1) David Cook – Last week, I thought David might be coasting. This week, while performance-wise he was fine, I don’t think he was coasting as much as he was ill-advised – by himself or someone else, I don’t know. “Hungry Like the Wolf,” y’all. If he were a bit older, he would probably know that the rock genre despised Duran Duran and had no respect for their work. In fact, any notion that Duran Duran was even a rock band brought froth. Personally, I loved them, but for his fan base, which includes those who stolidly defend their rock and shudder at anything popish, this was could cause alientation.

   To choose “Baba O’Riley” was brave. To try to perform it in 90 seconds was a mistake. Stripped of all those layers, like it had to be, such a renowned song came off as chopped and awkward. At this point you can allow no reason for the voting public to choose not to vote for you. I would bet this was the first week in a while that he didn’t beat David Archuleta in the actual Idol voting.




3. (2) Syesha Mercado – Oh Syesha. What a mountain you have to climb to go any further! The Davids are immense. Their fan bases are rabid. The finale is already set. All things that could work to her advantage. But the first thing that must happen is she has to continue to bring it! What Randy didn’t see in “A Change Is Gonna Come” is simple… her name isn’t David! (He’s really annoyed me this year – its like the best he can work up for Syesha is, “you’re in the zone!” Thanks?)

   Syesha has gained a ton of respect once she decided to just let loose. And why not, she’s been at the bottom so many times, things can only get a little worse! The turnaround in the public has been astounding. If in March, I were to say that the public would want Syesha in and Jason out of the top three, you would have called me insane (more than you already do!).

Then why has she slipped a notch? Well, because her name is not David! I am definitely a Syesha supporter (surprise!), but just like political candidates find themselves having to concede, even when they feel like they have more in the tank, she may have to live her dream in the real world sooner than later. I think Syesha will have to pull two bona fide Idol moments to have any chance at slipping past a David. She’s got to take Pennsylvania and North Carolina! She’s going to have to go “somewhere over the summertime rainbow.” That’s a lot to ask of a young lady who has already pushed so hard. Can she do it? I don’t think she can.

But I’m not laying down any money, either.

This will be the last Ranking of this season – next week, David Bloomberg and I predict who will win Season 7 of American Idol! (I know, already?!) The season has flown by!

Think of these moments as your written montage of this season of Idol: “You Are My Brother”; Princess Leia; Carly the Ringer; Josiah Leming; ‘Leif’ Garrett Haley; Handsome Luke Menard; Andrèa Lushingtion; Asia’h Epperson; Danny Noriega; three Davids, two Jasons, two Cooks, oh my!; Robbie Carrico – Neither Here Nor Hair?; Stripper Idol?; Daddy Archuleta; Amanda and Her Hair; Take It Easy Chikezie; “Allelujah”; Michael Johns Gone Too Soon?; Hello David Cook!; Brooke Reboots; Where Did The Real Jason Go?; Erm, Paula…; Super Syesha!

…and that brings us up to date.

Did I miss your favorite Idol moment of the season? Does Syesha have a snowball’s chance in Seacrest’s blow dryer of making the finals? Which David do you prefer, and why?

It’s been a blast this season! See you later!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent articles on Foxes On Idol:

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He currently lives in Europe, loves cold lemonade, ice cream and kittens! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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