Just came back from learning how to play mah jong. I’m way late blogging tonight. I’m going to do a quick and dirty watch through of the performances only, skipping all the other dross to get my rankings in.

Nashville rolled in and there were no disastrous “Beat It”-level performances. (Sadly, nobody picked “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.”)

Megan went from caw, caw to cough, cough – but in a good way. Anoop went from bad to pretty darn good. Allison showed she could actually do country. We get a double shot of Carrie covers. And Adam just put his own strange spin on Johnny Cash, which I dug (though I’m sure a lot of people didn’t.)

My brave predictions (before checking dialidol.com):

Who will be in the bottom three? Michael Sarver, Scott MacInytre, Kris Allen

Who will go home? Michael Sarver

Who should go home? Scott MacIntyre

My rankings: 1- Allison 2- Adam 3- Megan 4- Matt 5- Anoop 6- Kris 7 – Danny 8 – Lil Rounds 9- Alexis 10- Michael 11- Scott

Early dialidol numbers indicate five in danger: Michael, Scott, Megan, Allison and Alexis. (I obviously liked Allison a lot more than others and wasn’t quite as taken by Danny or Lil) The final numbers? Just three women were vulnerable: Alexis, Megan and inexplicably, Allison. If that was the case, I’d say Megan is going home. Caw! Caw!

First up: Michael Sarver (Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Down)”) This song is exhausting. He’s got a wonderfully warm voice but he really is straining to squeeze all the words in. It’s more frenetic than fun. His timing seems off. This kind of reminded me of Josh Gracin – and not in a good way.

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Second: Allison Iraheta (Patty Loveless’ “Blame It On Your Heart”). She takes a fun, rockin’ tune. And she sounds incredibly good. She’s got stage presence and confidence. I’m deeply impressed! Yeehaw Allison!

Third: Kris Allen (Garth Brooks’ “To Make You Feel My Love”) Love this song! Kris forgoes the guitar and goes ballad-y. He’s not quite as deeply emotive as Garth but it’s lovely and sweet.

Fourth: Lil Rounds (Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”) Randy Travis has her slow it down. She has the pipes to match Martina. She adds a bit of soul and gospel to a beautiful tune. I don’ t quite feel it compared to the original but she shows she can take a country song and (gulp) make it her own.

Fifth: Adam Lambert (Johnny Cash “Ring of Fire”) He goes all emo with this classic, slowing the song and adding a bit of Eastern feel. I prefer when he holds it back, which works this time. Sure, he has go all vocal yodeling at the end. Overall, it’s the furthest from country as can be but it worked as an Adam Lambert special. The camera guy is having a lot of fun circling around him. I enjoyed it just for the pure audacity of it all.

Sixth: Scott MacIntyre (Martina McBride’s “Wild Angels”) He Bruce Hornsby-izes a Martina special. I didn’t even recognize it at first. I think Scott’s problem is he is not that exciting. He’s a good vocalist but not amazing. He sounds like a 70s AM radio Leo Sayer type character and with that curly hair, he evokes that era as well.

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I was having DVR problems and couldn’t fast forward properly so from here on in, I had to watch in real time. From here, I insert judge’s comments.

Seventh: Alexis Grace (Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”) Last year, Brooke White did a passable job with this song. She does her hair like Dolly. I might have to listen to Brooke’s version and compare them. Alexis has a less innocent sheen, less vulnerable. I liked it okay but wasn’t bowled over. Randy: “I’m not sure you hit the notes quite well. You tried to bend it too much into the bluesy way.” Kara: “You lost your edge a little bit. It was a little flat.” Paula: “We’re used to you going all out… you took an artistic approach by showing different sides of your vocals.” Simon: “It was okay. It was a little soundalike. Not a lot of originality.”

Eighth: Danny Gokey (Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel”) He’s a church minister so he picked Carrie’s Christian crossover hit. A very clean, heartfelt version though I can’t say it’s an improvement over Carrie’s. It was quintessential Danny, a good enough performance to ensure another week. I kinda like the jacket-it looks like a fleece minus the fleece. Kara: “The front half of that performance was not spectacular. Halfway through, Danny came out of the shell.” Paula: “I love when artists build a story…I think you were brilliant.” Simon: “I agree with Paula. You don’t start that song full on. My problem is what you’re wearing.” Randy: “You have to support the verses better.”

Ninth: Anoop Desai (Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind”) He slows it up, attempting to erase last year’s nightmare from our memories. He redeems himself with a sweet, emotional take. It was solemn in a good way. He is safe. Paula: “It fit you like a glove as opposed to last week.” Simon: “You managed to go from zero to hero. One of my favorite performances of the night. Good for you, you can take a bit of a kicking last week. You definitely deserve to be on the show. You didn’t whine about it. Took good advice. Took a good song and delivered a great vocal. Welcome back, Anoop.” Randy: “You showed your vocal skills. I like the arrangement.” Kara: “That is a classic song. Untouchable almost. What you did was amazing.”

Tenth: Megan Joy Corkrey (Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight”). This was one of Kellie Pickler’s best performances three years ago. Can Megan exceed it? That dress highlights the hideous tattoo. Keep the camera on her left side! She does her usual wiggling and her funky vocal intonations. She smiles in that chipper, coquettish manner, too. Some vocal wiggles, too, that might cause her some problems with the judges. Cough, cough. She was in the hospital! Randy: “I thought it would be a little bit of a trainwreck but I was quite impressed.” Kara: “Perfect song, perfect look. Here’s the thing. You’re winner. Not many people with the flu could … do what you did tonight.” Paula: “You’re a consummate professional.” Simon: “You should have flu ever week. You look gorgeous. Whoever is styling you is sucking away some of the quirkiness we like about you.”

Pimp spot: Matt Giraud (Carrie Underwood’s “So Small”). He went left field by slowing down an already slow song. I wasn’t all that impressed with the song when Carrie sang it. Kinda boring to me. Matt, behind the piano, does that bluesy soulful thang – and he pulls it off. (Is that a big pimple on his forehead or was that always there?) He pulls back on all the runs he tends to do. End note was not great but overall, he’s safe for sure. And heck, of course, he’s safe cos he’s in the pimp spot! Kara: “Your heart pours out of that piano… You’re amazing.” Paula: “The authenticity and honesty you bring to that delivery is unparalleled.” Simon: “You’re quite similar to Danny. I think you outsang him tonight. You remind me of Michael Buble.” Randy: “It was my favorite performance of the night>”