Top 11: Song Predictions- Grand Ole Opry

Hey everyone! Welcome to my new blog about American Idol. I know, I have no life and I'm a degenerate...get over it! This was a list I made yesterday, so I figured I'd put it up here even though we already know what the contestants sang.

Here is the song list for tonight. In this blog, I will give my personal opinion as to what songs each contest should sing (remember, I'm not all that familiar with country music). This is 100% original and I did not view any other people's opinions online in making my decisions. Hopefully this song list is accurate! I'll try to do something similar to this before each performance episode if I can find the lists every week.

http://www.votefortheworst.com/20090305/spoilers_upcoming_american_idol_8_theme_weeks

1. Adam Lambert - Alison Krauss "When You Say Nothing At All" or Garth Brooks "The Dance"

Adam has provided two extremely high octane songs which called for over the top theatrics and performances. However, many people don't want to be screamed at week after week, even if it's technically good and the song calls for it. I agree with Simon that Adam's performances are in another league from the other contestants, but this is the point where he needs to take a step back, calm it down a bit, and show us that he can really sing and connect with the audience. I think it will be one of these two songs since he probably has very little connection with the Grand Ole Opry and these are two very well known songs that have crossed over to more mainstream success. I think he should do "When You Say Nothing At All." I think it would actually be amazing. "I Will Always Love You" is also a possibility, and he could kill that I think, but another contestant will sing that one...

2. Danny Gokey - Alan Jackson "Chattahoochee"

Danny is in a good position right now. Paula has knighted him to the finals and there are swarms of people who love him. However, there is also a rather large following (myself included) who got tired of the wife card after the producers shoved it down our throats week after week. It is tragic what happened, but there has to more to him than that, right? He has realized this, according to interviews, and I think he is trying to show a more energetic, possitive Danny like we saw last week. "Chattahoochee" would be a good song for him b/c it's up tempo, so he can have fun with it, but also, the natural rasp he has would not take away from the song like I feel it did for "Hero" (I might be the only one who thought that though). He's done an up tempo and a ballad, so he can swing either way this week, but I expect up tempo and this is his best option.

3. Alexis Grace - Carrie Underwood "Before He Cheats"

I think this would be the perfect song Alexis to sing. It has enough grit to show that she has become "dirty" as Kara has said time and again, but it also has the vocal chops to show how well she can sing. The higher notes might be a little out of her true range, but I think this is one of Carrie Underwood's more singable songs on the list and Alexis would be hard pressed to find anything else that fit her voice this well. I am really excited at her potential here and I'm not even THAT big of a fan of hers.

4. Lil' Rounds - Dolly Parton "I Will Always Love You" or Trisha Yearwood "How Do I Live"

Lil' wants to continue belting out big songs. As the lone African American woman (contestant!) on the show, I have a sneaking suspicion that she will do the Whitney version of "I WIll Always Love You," something that so many prior big singers have done on Grand Ole Opry week. I personally think she'd sound better on "How Do I Live" b/c she can showcase her pipes without being compared to one of the best singers ever and coming off karaoke. I would also love to hear her sing "Fancy" by Reba, but that song is well out of anyone's range still left on the show. She could surprise me, but I am fully prepared to hear her best Whitney impersonation.

5. Allison Iraheta - Pam Tillis "Maybe it was Memphis" or Carrie Underwood "Before He Cheats" or Lorrie Morgan "Watch Me"

Allison might find the going rough this week, but she might be able to pull out an amazing performance as well. It's very hard for me to her voice on any of the songs on this list, but she might be able to turn in a good rock version of one of the three listed above. I would like to hear "Maybe it was Memphis" the most. It's a good song and I think that she could put a Heart spin on it and make it truly her own. This is where she has the potential to shine this week- completely making a country song different to fit her style, a la David Cook.

6. Kris Allen - Brad Paisley "Mudd on the Tires" or Josh Turner "Your Man" or Dierks Bentley "What Was I Thinkin' "

So, Kris Allen has his pick as to what song he can sing this week. Even though he is not a country singer, he will still be able to play his guitar on any song he chooses. I think he's starting to realize that he's the "eye candy" for the female voters, so I expect him to play to that strength. I think any of these songs would work for him, granted he has to put them in the right key (Josh Turner sings hecka low!) And he has to stop singing like a llama with his jaw all sticking out like that. I like Kris though, so I think he'll do a good job this week.

7. Anoop Desai - Garth Brooks "The Dance"

Anoop is going to suffer the most. His voice is just not made for any of these songs. Smooth and R&B is about as anti-Grand Ole Opry as you can get. He has been terrible in his song selection this season, so if he continues with that trend, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brad Paisley's "Celebrity" (the video actually mocks American Idol!). But he needs to go back to what he does best- croon out that ballad. You can easily put a mo-town spin on "The Dance" and make it sound like Boyz II Men, so I think that would be his best shot to gain back some of those voters that are perplexed by him right now.

8. Scott MacIntyre - Vince Gill "I Still Believe In You" or Ronnie Milsap "It was Almost Like a Song"

I think people are starting to realize that, while Scott is a very likeable guy, he's not the greatest singer in the competition. But his piano playing and passion are making up for that. He's going to be a one trick pony this season (not his fault). The Ronnie Milsap song fits his voice more, but I like Vince Gill's better. It's more dynamic and expressive. If he does the Vince Gill song, and does it well , I think he'll convey enough emotion to potentially make this one of those very special performances that people talk about.

9. Matt Giraud - Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places"

At first I didn't know what song to peg for Matt, but then it hit me like a truck. I think he could ball this song out! Clearly, it is a favorite at dueling piano bars (his dang job!) so we know he knows the song and knows how to sell it. If he didn't do this song and went for a slow ballad, I think he would have to be given the "worst song choice of the night" award, even if Anoop does tank in that category again.

10. Megan Corkery - Patsy Cline "I Fall to Pieces" or "Crazy"

Ok, let's just get this out of the way. Megan is crazy. I love watching her perform, just to see what craziness she has in store for us! CAW! CAW! Anyway, "I Fall to Pieces" would be the best choice for quirky Megan. As we all know, she does not have the kind of voice that can be adapted to any song. It is a very old, alto, bluesy voice. This song is the closest she is going to come to finding that, and it's not nearly as iconic or as "untouchable" as "Crazy" is. She can do well with either b/c they hide the fact that her voice isn't nearly as dynamic as the other female contestants.

11. Michael Sarver - Travis Tritt "It's a Great Day To Be Alive"

It truly is a great day to be alive for Michael Sarver, because of all the contestants on that stage, he is the least deserving. Yes, he made up for a terrible start during the top 36 with a very well sung version of "You are not Alone," but I am still not buying his kool-aid quite yet. This song can fit his voice very well since he has that country twang in his voice. If he can add a little soulful flavor to it, it could end up being a decent performance.

There you have it folks, my prognostication for tonights performances. Will I get them right? Will I get ANY right? Who knows!?!? Hope you enjoyed the (long) read :).

Your American Idol Junkie,

Billy

PS. This was more fun than my job...can I get paid to do this?