American Idol Season Seven: The Top Eight

On tonight's episode of American Idol, we will watch the top eight contestants perform inspirational songs, and the competition is really heating up! In a season as full of talented singers as this one, the remaining idols will have to really step up in order to stay in the game.

I have no doubt most of the remaining singers will walk away from the show with a record deal, but here is my ranking of the season seven American Idol top eight contestants from best to worst. These rankings are based on my view of their talent and potential to have a singing career, not on how I think America will vote. Sadly, America votes with their emotions rather than on who is really the best singer.

#1 Brooke White
If you'd asked me weeks ago, I never would have guessed Brooke White would be my number one choice for American Idol. However, she has really grown on me and I've enjoyed almost all of her performances. She puts her own style on every song she sings. I think she falls in nicely with the piano-playing girl singer crowd, such as Nora Jones and Sara Bareilles. I don't know if she'll win the whole competition, because I think America tends to forget about her and she doesn't have the cute kid factor of David Archuleta, but I think she's going to be around for a few more weeks at least.

#2 Carly Smithson
I really, really, really like Carly Smithson. She has a great voice and can sing rock, which, in my opinion, not a lot of women can. I think she can sing just about anything. She has the attitude and stage presence of a rock star, not a karaoke or theme park performer like some of them. I'm not wild about the tattoos, but they don't particularly offend me and I don't have to look at them if I'm listening to her on the radio! I also love her speaking voice. As long as she's careful about her song choices from here on out, Carly Smithson could well be the next American Idol.

#3: David Archuleta
I know, I know, everyone thinks David Archuleta is the clear winner. I like David, I really do, but at the moment there are others I like better. I think he has a wonderful voice. However, he's not what I'm looking for when I buy CD's, although I think my mother and teenage daughter would probably buy him. He was my favorite when the season began, but I've gone back and forth about him. I think he'll do well tonight, because inspirational songs seem to be right up his alley.

#4 David Cook
I didn't like David Cook at the beginning of this season. I had him right down there with Michael Johns, but he's really coming into his own. I still don't think he has the best singing voice, but I like the renditions he sings of popular songs, even if they aren't original. If he can stay out of the hospital, he should stick around the American Idol stage for a while longer. I would like to see him branch out a little, away from the ballads.

#5: Michael Johns
Michael Johns wowed me a couple of weeks ago with "We are the Champions," but most weeks he leaves me pretty flat. He's good looking and has a nice voice, but I don't always find him interesting enough to listen to. He was near the bottom of my list at the beginning of the top twenty-four performances, but he's redeeming himself.

#6: Kristy Lee Cook
I don't dislike Kristy Lee Cook nearly as much as the rest of America seems to-at least the ones in my American Idol pool and on the discussion boards. I think part of her problem is that she's a country girl and has made the wrong song choices. Simon Cowell's advice to countrify some mainstream songs was good, as long as she picks the right ones. I think Kristy will do well as a country singer after she leaves American Idol-she has a good voice when she uses it correctly.

#7: Syesha Mercado
Next to go should be Syesha Mercado. I occasionally enjoy Syesha's singing-she really does have a good voice. However, I don't think she's that good of a performer. She often picks the wrong song, and regardless of the song she tends to be boring. She doesn't even have Jason Castro's dreads and dopiness to fall back on...as Simon Cowell is fond of saying, she's forgettable.

#8: Jason Castro
Of the remaining American Idol contestants, Jason Castro gets my vote as the worst. I'm not quite sure why people keep voting for him, but I suspect it's all the teenage girls who love his hair and dopey expression. Maybe it's all the Hannah Montana fans. Sure, he has a nice voice, but he's not up to the caliber of the other contestants. He really needs to go home this week.