American Idol: Ranking The Top Eight

For once, the voting public got it right. This season of American Idol has the best top eight that I can recall watching. Still, even with a stellar top eight, there are some performers that are better than the others.

David Cook has the best chance of winning this season of American Idol. His performances offer originality that is oftentimes lacking from the long list of Whitney Houston power ballads. His voice is powerful and pure, and he actually seems to understand music. David Cook is not simply up there, yelling some words into a microphone. He is feeling the song, because in a sense, the song is his. Each week, he brings something to the table that the viewer has not heard on the radio countless times. It's as if he's putting on original material week after week. I do understand that his arraignments are often borrowed from the likes of Chris Cornell and other artists, but still, they are new to most viewers, and in the land of American Idol, that counts for a lot.

Coming in at a close second will be David Archuleta. Archuleta has a lot going for him in this competition. As far as his appearance goes, he's adorable in a way that appeals to both teenagers and grandmothers. His voice is pure and smooth, and very nice to listen to. However, poor David cannot sing anything that has an upbeat tempo, just as he can't wrap his voice around anything that doesn't have a serious message. It can be hard to swallow when a young boy is singing onstage, with the earnestness of a high school kid, about poverty and homelessness. His lack of being able to sing fun songs is what's going to keep him from winning the coveted prize of first place. Still, with a strong finish at second, David Archuleta will not be a has been after this season of American Idol.

Third place belongs to the Irish powerhouse Carly Smithson. No matter what Simon has to say about her clothes, no matter what America might think of her tattoos, no one can deny that the girl can sing. Her voice is powerful yet controlled, and when she sings a song, that song is hers for the minute and a half she's allowed on stage. American Idol has proven itself to not be focused on looks. I doubt that Carly's clothes or tattoos will be enough to hold her back from finishing third.

Brooke White will fall comfortably into forth place, strumming her guitar with a smile on her face as she gets ready to exit the stage. Brooke White is an immensely talented singer, and we've learned that she can tap on a piano pretty well also. Her voice is refined and rich, and she's not afraid to rearrange a song. However, none of that is going to be enough to move her past the fourth spot in this competition. While Brooke is very talented, she's not full of surprises. One can guess how Brooke's performance is going to go before she even takes the stage. She's certainly skilled enough to put out some music on her own, but she's not the person that is going to win this season.

Many might be surprised, but I predict that Jason Castro will finish this season out at number five. He came on strong. His performance of Hallelujah is still being talked about. That is, though, unfortunately where he peaked. The viewer has never since seen the raw emotion or heard the tenderness in his voice that was present on that one night. Instead, the viewer is subjected to Jason Castro singing with a look of embarrassment on his face. People who fail to appear grateful at all times about their time on Idol never win. Look at Chris Daughtry. He was incredibly talented, but he seemed to feel a little too "cool" for the competition. His exit ended up being much earlier than expected.

Michael Johns will finish in sixth place. It is not talent that will keep him from moving higher up the ladder. It's not exactly song choice, either, or his looks. There is just something missing from Michael Johns, possibly the "star quality" that Simon constantly speaks of. He doesn't connect to the audience. Unless he's singing something by The Doors or Queen, he doesn't seem to feel entirely comfortable with the words or music. Michael Johns has a big, powerful voice, but he's yet to understand what to do with it.

Seventh place will belong to Syesha Mercado. Syesha has a lot of talent. She has a big voice that can tackle most songs. However, I don't think I stand alone when I say that it would be nice if she, along with others, would leave Whitney alone. She needs to sing things that cause her to stand out, not things that cause her to be compared. Even if she does a good job with a Whitney Houston song, my brain is comparing her version to the original. Why? It could possibly be because Whitney Houston had one of the best voices of my generation AND her songs were overplayed on mainstream radio for years. At any rate, Syesha needs to leave them alone. Also, she needs to stop doing her fake baby cry, as it is scaring people, not causing people to pick up the phone to vote for her.

If all is fair in this world, Kristy Lee Cook will come in eighth place. The other contestants have far more talent than she does, and they don't come armed with smart remarks for Simon and others who don't think she's going to be the next Trisha Yearwood. I find myself cringing whenever she's singing, or talking, or gawking uncomfortably at the judges. It's time for Kristy Lee to go back to the farm.

I expect that six out of the seven of these talented contestants will reach fame in one way or another. They have all had their time in the spotlight to show their talents, and I believe that we will be hearing from most of them after American Idol. Syesha and Kristy Lee will be the only two who haven't made a big enough impression on viewers to make a career out of their time on American Idol.