American Idol 7 - Top 6 Rankings

Now that the competition is down to six it gets tougher to sing well and with confidence. David Archuleta has sung well but not well enough to overtake David Cook. Cook is currently at the tops of both the Amazon.com and iTunes sales charts. In the middle of the pack but seemingly rising week to week is Carly Smithson, a proven musical commodity overseas but hardly known stateside.

Last week it was finally time for Kristy Lee Cook to take a bow and say goodbye after narrowly surviving for several weeks. With two ringers gone in the past two weeks in shock eliminations it seems high time for Syesha Mercado to say goodbye to season 7 and hello to the talk-show circuit like her other Idol 7 colleagues. But don't be surprised if Jason Castro bids adieu, since the Dallas native has been suffering from the flu all week and is reportedly singing "Memory" from Webber's musical CATS. And Brooke White just hasn't been her usual ebullient self lately, fueling speculation that this may be her curtain call. She has looked like she's had about as much fun as Amanda Overmyer.

Here is the Top 6 ranked in order:

1. David Cook - Look for something out of the ordinary this evening, with Cook always taking the road less traveled when it comes to his song choice. And look for that song to be wildly entertaining, though it has been weeks since Cook has had a bad night. With the illness of his brother looming on his conscience, is Cook ripe for an average evening? Not during Andrew Lloyd Webber week. He may even tackle "Jesus Christ Superstar."

2. Carly Smithson - Now is the time for Carly Smithson to make her move on the rest of the pack. If she doesn't she's in grave danger of a shock elimination. According to an interview with Webber in the Las Vegas Sun today she will sing something from "Jesus Christ Superstar." This should be the week that makes or breaks it for Carly.

3. David Archuleta - Although some media outlets think this week is wildly suited for Archuleta I don't think his song will be anything close to either Cook or Smithson. I think he'll play it safe and choose something appealing to his fans. He'll wait to make his move.

4. Brooke White - White may be safe this week if only for the fact that Castro has been feeling ill. She'll play it safe for that very reason. Her song choice will be theatrical with a piano accompaniment. If she risks everything and goes for it she may find herself still in the competition next week.

5. Syesha Mercado - She too will benefit from Castro's illness and will narrowly survive the night because she'll choose something somewhat risky. But if both Castro and White go for it then Mercado is on the chopping block.

6. Jason Castro - Reports are flying that Castro is singing "Memory" from CATS, which is a big song with big risks. Coupled with his reported illness and it's a bad situation. The only thing Castro can hope for is that his voice holds up through the song, if that is the song he's singing and that either White or Mercado have a bad night.

Of course all of the singers are reportedly good friends, so they wouldn't wish anything bad to happen, now would they? In a shock elimination prediction Brooke White will be sent home, making this the third in as many weeks that a ringer has been sent packing. Jason Castro will be spared.

The other thing that comes to mind is that there hasn't been a non-elimination week as yet. Is this the week where there is a twist to the proceedings? There haven't been any wild-cards announced either. Any way you look at it, the Top 6 Andrew Lloyd Webber week during Idol 7 promises to be as interesting as any of Webber's theatrical productions.

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