America Gets it Wrong, Idol Sends Chikezie Home

and he – Jason Castro – was deemed safe right away.

I like how Jason was off babbling about his performance, Ryan was like shut-up, you're safe.

But yea, this is why I really hated Kristy Lee and wish she was voted off earlier. I knew she was going to eventually stumble into a good week (which this more or less was) and then someone more deserving would be sent home. This is also why I want Daniel Archuleta off the show ASAP, before he takes the place of someone who's actually talented.

Now for Chikezie, I still think he performance from the first Beatle's week was the best of the entire competition so far, but besides that he's been rather disappointing and boring. He definitely has potential, but he only really connected on one song. I don't think he deserved to go, but at this stage of the game he wasn't looking to make it all that much further unless he re-captured lightning in a bottle.

They messed up big time, he and Cook are the only ones doing things radically creative.
I can't believe Rami stays while C. goes.

I have to say I agree with you 100% on every point. Chikezie probably wasn't going to win it, but he did go home too soon.

As for the polls with the high numbers for Ramiele going home, the difference is in those polls, we are voting for who we think should go home, and we only have one vote, and on Idol, we can vote several times for who we think should stay.

Maybe Danny Noriega has several cell phone accounts and he puts his 2 post-Idol hours to good use. :)

America definitely got it wrong, but it appears more and more that somehow this show is fixed. Hear me out. I know it's based on phone calls, but every year, the judges are tasked with finding a new and original talent. You know this year there won't be a country star (Underwood) or any other current star. The judges were not overly cordial to Chekezie since day one. They (at least one per week) didn't get it or didn't feel it. Regardless, Chekezie's days were numbered. I for one thought he had an outstanding sound and tone in his voice. He'll be a star. As for the "fix", look at previous years. How often does the winner actually make it! Taylor who? Fantasia? Give me break. Daughtry has been one of the biggest hits to NOT win. I predict this year will come down to Archuleta and David Cook. Archuleta is obviously the judges choice, but I don't see him making it as a star. His sickeningly sweet act is enough to give me a cavity listening to him. David Cook is that original star for this season. He, Chekezie, and maybe Carly Smithson will make it as stars. Outside of them, no one else has IT!

Re: David Cook and the arrangements of the songs he used:

To me, the ability to pick a song/arrangement that you know will work for you is almost as impressive as arranging the song yourself. Especially when you pick an iconic song like "Billie Jean", that pretty much everyone knows, and do a radical rearrangement of the song - no matter whose rearrangement it is. That is taking a massive risk, because you do not know how the public is going to receive it. So, for me, that ability is a talent in and of itself. And really, until these contestants reach the finale, there is no truly "original" song or arrangement being sung on the show. And even at the finale, TPTB won't let the contestants rearrange that coronation song however they want. Blake Lewis seemed to have a few words to say about that.

These contestants have 7 whole days (less than that, really, considering the promo appearances they have to make, Ford commercials to film, not to mention recording a FULL version of the song in the studio, etc) to prepare for each week, including learning the songs and whatever tweaks they make to the arrangement. I don't expect them to be completely original in their arrangements every week. This is a show of covers, and if you can find a cover of a cover of a cover of the song you picked for the week, and you sell your performance, what does it matter?

Simon Cowell's perspective from his latest interview on ew.com -

"I've got to tell you, watching it back, this performance he did on "Billie Jean," in my opinion, was in a different league to anything we've heard on the season so far. It was so much better, [chuckles] he kind of made some of the other performances seem ridiculous. But I'm glad! He was smart — I know where he got the arrangement of the song from, but that doesn't really matter. He was brilliant!"

Sorry for the double post. New user. :)

I really am sorry to see Chikezie go, talented and seemingly very nice. I agree Ramiele isn't showing me anything, and Christy Lee Cook is a joke, no expression on her face, and singing with her eyes closed maybe she should be in that bedroom Simon always talks about. I really love Carly's sound, why aren't people raving about her? Right now, though for me, it's between David Cook and Michael Johns...

I don't think the results were wrong. Either this week, or the next two, he was bound to go home. The show is called American Idol for a reason and as far as talent goes, that is; talent that really stands out, David Cook is the only one that stands out from the crowd. I went to school with piles of kids that could sing like the rest of them. It is more or less like Simon says, listening to subway singers. Shut your eyes and you'll see what I mean. David A. has a good voice, but the looks aren't there. As far as David Cook goes, he too doesn't appear as a very appealing person, but once he gets behind that mic, he becomes the magic shows. Also, concerning the judges, I think what happens when some get praise for a performance well done, the judges then go home at night and listen to them on replay. That's when they get to listen to what I listen to at home. Some of it is down right terrible. Sheyesha, Justin, Chikezie, Ramiele, and Kristy were one of the next five to go. It doesn't matter what order they do it in, they just need to go.

I don't think the results were wrong. Either this week, or the next two, he was bound to go home. The show is called American Idol for a reason and as far as talent goes, that is; talent that really stands out, David Cook is the only one that stands out from the crowd. I went to school with piles of kids that could sing like the rest of them. It is more or less like Simon says, listening to subway singers. Shut your eyes and you'll see what I mean. David A. has a good voice, but the looks aren't there. As far as David Cook goes, he too doesn't appear as a very appealing person, but once he gets behind that mic, he becomes the magic shows. Also, concerning the judges, I think what happens when some get praise for a performance well done, the judges then go home at night and listen to them on replay. That's when they get to listen to what I listen to at home. Some of it is down right terrible. Sheyesha, Justin, Chikezie, Ramiele, and Kristy were one of the next five to go. It doesn't matter what order they do it in, they just need to go.

Jason was my pick to go. I like the kid and he has a nice voice, but Simon was right when he said it sounded like some guy playing guitar and singing in his room.

David A. has a wonderful voice and he should tour with Josh Grogan, but now might not be his time.

Overall, I want Brooke to win. She has more musicality than the rest. Carly is a close second. Her "Come Together" was brilliant, as was Brooke's "Let It Be." They are both winners.

Chikezie was not going to win. It was just a matter of when he was voted off.

I really think the public is swayed by what the judges say. Compare "In My Life" by Ramielle a few weeks ago to "Syesha's" Yesterday the following Week. The singing aside (though I think Ramielle has a better voice than she is given credit for). Ramielle's was deemed boring and Syesha's was a smash hit. Let me tell you why. they should have both been cosidered on the same "boring" level. But Syesha sang the more popular song, and she closed her eyes sporadically during it... Thus, the judges seem to think that Syehas was "heartfelt" and Ramielle's was boring. and the gullible public is soooooooooooo easily swayed by Simon. You don't even realize it. take David hernandez a few weeks back. He sings "I Saw Her Standing There" and Simon says soomething to the effect of he did too much with the song and it was corny, yada yada yada. If Simon says "you made it your own, that was great"......... not only does he not get booted off, he is not in the bottom three......The public does NOT EVEN REALIZE how impressionable they are...
either way, I hope Ramielle sticks around for a while... I think she has become the "whipping girl" the last few weeks..

Loved the song Chikezie performed! He sang it perfectly, with passion and emotion. It was a great song choice, mixing the old with the new, Luther and Bow Wow. Problem is Simon and much of the American Idol audience can only relate to a small variety of music. In the past Nikko was voted off after performing a slow R&B ballad, he sang it beautifully but again the audience didn't get it.
I really enjoy Jason Castro's voice, he has a Robin Thicke feel, also, David Cook, Brooke, David A. and Syesha are excellent. Hopefully someday Idol will recognize the R&B Artists, like Brian McKnight, Luther, New Edition, Joe, Janet Jackson,Jodeci etc. when they get past the Beatles, Rod Stewart and Dolly.