Playing acoustic guitar.

Nice and bluesy.

Randy. Funny thing that was just alrit by me. This is down to the wire and can't do a safe easy song like that.

Ellen. This is the moment, live or die. Lefty Tighty Righty Loosey no Righty Tighty, you needed to blow us away.

Kara. Hard to pick something not everyone knows. First listen for people, just establishing it. didn't work in your favor.

Simon. It is the most important night, lucky have two song choices. That song was the salad. Hopefully something more to come. Kinda sounded like you were busking rather than competing. A dud song choice but you sounded good.

Whoops, miscued right from the beginning, as if what? I'm supposed to sing now? And it stayed that way, kind of forced along without any real zing to it, with nothing on the guitar or vocals to blow us away. I already forgot what it sounded like.

I think the song choice was one that summed up how he felt about AI and his experience. He knows the fix is in, Ellen's on her talk show saying Lee and Crystal. So he just plays something he likes and waits for the season to end.

What he played in Texas, now THAT was awesome. I was hoping he might pull out a little blues guitar but AI may have blocked that, so Casey just says, ok, what the heck, I'll just sing this song.

that's what I got from it too, he knows he's gone so go out the way he wants and not the way tptb want good for him

Crystal gets the coke stool interview.

Come To My Window by Melissa Etheridge

Starts on the harmonica. Playing acoustic guitar, bong mic stand.

Ends on the harmonica.

Nice to hear her do something up tempo.

Randy. It is that time looking for a winner. Didn't love the arrangement. What I did like is your vocal on that. You rose above it, it worked in the end. Amazing song, good choice.

Ellen. The kind of song you want to sing, Melissa would be proud.

Kara. Agree with the GUYS. Your tone doesn't have the rasp, but it was still a good vocal. Hope you have a moment tonight.

Simon. Agree with what they said. Not a stunning version. What I like is up until now you haven't compromised yourself as an artist. Did what is you, an honest performance, made the right choice.

Crystal comes out with a harmonica on along with her acoustic, breathes out a few bluesy bars, then goes into her usual acoustic rhythm and song and finishes off with a blues turnaround on the harmonica as from the start. Pretty good performance, easy to listen to, ok for a concert song in between some big hits, but not a big hit itself.

She could have chosen a "moment" song; instead she chooses a song from one of her idols...

Also gets a stool interview.

Simple Man--Lynyrd Skynyrd

Again with the acoustic guitar. It's Guitar Idol.

He does seem more comfortable than usual.

Randy. I could see you doing this. Sounded amazing, someone is feeling like they can win this.

Ellen. That is what we are talking about. Taking this seriously. you were like a baby lamb and now you are like an impala, god that was yea yem.

Kara. you should us everything you got, dynamics, meaning, round one goes to Lee.

Simon. Why did you chose that. He says he is happy when playing it.

Honest with you, the contestant choices are OK, but that was on the money. I think you crushed the other two.

I've never been a Lee fan, but I think he really put it together tonight. Superb song choice and arrangement to back up very solid rhythm guitar and an energetic, confident voice we haven't really heard so far this season. This was such a (mildly surprising) good performance that I forgot to check out which key and riffs he was playing on the guitar.

Lee gets to talk about his home visit and we hear from Ryan how Lee is a changed man.

All these song choices are curious to me...I think they need to give better coaching to the contestants about song choices at the beginning of the season.

Look how much more relaxed and at home Lee is performing, What a surprise! (not)

It was so he would peak tonight, with the pimp spot.

Heh.

*runs in* I'm here, I'm here! Just had to get BBQ for family from hell organized.

But now I'm drinking wine and ready for Freddy. Or Casey. He's heating me up again. Damn him!

MC, did you see the links in the hometown visit thread from Casey's ht visit? He played some mean blues...it will take you back to what you like about Casey...

Unbelievable. I watched this morning. His command of the genre is amazing. So comfortable, so in his element. On the AI stage he freezes.

In his element, he melts me. Would buy his CD as a weekend acoutrement (SP?) to some extra-curriculars, IYKWIM.

Yep, IKWYM.

LAST EDITED ON 05-18-10 AT 08:32 PM (EST)

ETA - Never mind

They seem to be focusing on performances tonight.

Yup, I'd think so. The half hour is already up and there's plenty of time for home visit fodder tomorrow.

(in case you're curious as to how things work outside of the pimping world)

3. Nets.
2. 76ers.
1. Wizards.

Now back to our regularly scheduled vote miscounting, already in progress.

What does billions of dollars buy? Third place.

What does billions of dollars buy? Third place.

Heck, for half that, you can get last place and first round draft pick.

Texas trip video package.

Daughters by John Meyers.

Think this is a great direction, commercial singer song writer. Kara needs to know your audience and they are women and girls (what about worsters?)

LAST EDITED ON 05-18-10 AT 08:37 PM (EST)

Her eyeballs turned into big "Pink Floyd" teeth and ate Casey up. Just sayin'.

Here's my problem with that blond god - when I watched the youtube videos of him in his element, on his home visit, he was loose, he was comfortable, but on stage he becomes somewhat wooden (*snort* I said wooden) but really, he is not comfortable on stage.

Oh ya, Kara, vulnerable - ready to strike, #####? 'cause I'll beat ya to the punch anyday.

Well, that could have been worse, despite randy saying this is the direction he should go as (oops) when he leaves the show.

Yeah, it could have been worse. Not all bad, actually.

But nowhere near like the way John Mayer both sings and plays it. The guitar in this was totally superfluous and the voice not as nearly as intense.

Re not being loose on the stage.

To be fair, it's pretty hard to relax as you watch the bus hurtling towards you at top speed.

too twu

Playing guitar, another guitar player on the edge of the stage and piano on stage.

Does a guitar solo.

Randy. The one you chose but this fit you like a glove, keep going this direction.

Ellen. Beautiful for you. Lot of daughters voting for you.

Kara. This showed the more artistic side of you, where you are sensitive and that is where you shine. good job, changed but didn't stray too far.

Simon. I think it was a better song choice. Randy bleating on about arrangements. The climax is a limp guitar solo. They needed to give you a vocal.

Kara bleats on
Simon, you sounded good, didn't have that wow factor.

Kara and Randy bleat on.

baaahaaahaaaa

whatcha laughin' at?

the oxymoron... limp climax?