the top 3 vs. clive davis, the judges, and themselves

elliot - "open arms"
randy: "you worked it out...feel free to take chances"
paula: "excellent voice tonight...you did a great job"
simon: "you have got to loosen up"

this was an awesome vocal for a tough song, and i agree with simon, he seemed stiff again, like the first few weeks of the top twelve. nerves, i'm sure.

katharine - "i believe i can fly"
randy: "it wasn't quite the right thing for you"
paula: "you look beautiful"
simon: "you kind of created a bit of a moment for yourself"

well, she certainly made it her own. it didn't sound anything like the original. i thought the arrangement was terrible, though, and the band was loud as hell over her again.

taylor - "dancing in the dark"
randy: "that was hot"
paula: "you're incredible"
simon: "that was okay"

very cool, i enjoyed it a lot. but paula is no courtney cox.

elliot - "what you won't do for love"
randy: "you were a little sharp most of the song"
paula: "you've got amazing soul"
simon: "i thought you sang that pretty good"

whats up with the hating, randy? this was awesome. i love that he always gives it his all... he took the criticism and loosened right up for this one, too.

katharine - "somewhere over the rainbow"
randy: "the best vocal of the season for you...that was brilliant"
paula: "you tapped into your beautiful, natural self"
simon: "the single best performance of the competition to date"

amazing. maybe a little forced, but finally a showstopper from this season.

taylor - "you are so beautiful"
randy: "you did the song proud"
paula: "you are a star"
simon: "far and away your best performance...loved it"

my favorite performance of the entire season. i've been waiting for some cocker from him.

elliot - "i believe it to my soul"
randy: "you can definitely sing, man"
paula: "soulful...you're a funky white boy"
simon: "you are a great singer"

great, great vocal. i really wish the finale coulda been between him and taylor.

katharine - "i ain't got nothing but the blues"
randy: "this was okay..."
paula: "you still did a great job"
simon: "it was okay"

yeah, it was okay. maybe a little better than just okay. doesn't matter, somewhere over the rainbow was good enough.

taylor - "try a little tenderness"
randy: "your new name is 'have a good time funky taylor'"
paula: "i waited all season for you to sing this song and you did an incredible job"
simon: "good performance...i'll see you next tuesday"

this guy rocks. i want him to win it all... everyone performing music should have this much fun.



well, we know what's happened by now...
what i woulda wrote (and will anyway), is that i thought all three songs from both taylor and elliot were great; but the two standout performances of the night were you are so beautiful and somewhere over the rainbow.