Broo-- Sorry, Let Me Start Again-- Brooke White Sings "You Must Love Me"

OK, Brooke White, we know you're nervous. All the contestants are. Just like all of the other American Idol contestants from all of the previous seasons have been. And forgetting a lyric or two isn't unheard of. But having the Ricky Minor and the Band restart your song is. The top-notch American Idol constants and professionals get through it; a seasoned performer should be able to cover up a lyric amnesia-attack seamlessly so that no one even notices. That is what separates them from the wannabes. A wannabe will stumble over the forgotten words painfully, or attempt to hum on-key until the chorus... or, if you're Brooke White, you simply stop the song all together and begin again.

So what's in store for Brooke White? Contrary to the judges' opinions, I thought she did a pretty good job vocally on her "You Must Love Me" performance. I've always like Brooke White... she has a certain charm to her; a seemingly innocent yet confident attitude, a breathy voice that she seems to have complete control of, and a natural beauty that she never ruins with heavy makeup and flashy clothes. But is this what American Idol voters desire more of?

Brooke White has been in the American Idol 'bottom three' a number of times now, but has still managed to escape elimination. So what factors push American Idol voters one way or the other? The voters seem to be forgiving of "lyric amnesia" when it comes to David Archuleta; he forgot his lyrics in a previous episode and it didn't land him anywhere near the bottom three. But David Archuleta didn't stop the song and start over, either. Will American Idol voters be turned off by Brooke White's decision? Do they expect only superior performances this far along in American Idol? Or perhaps Brooke White was able to connect with the audience on a different level, by showing her vulnerability and desire to do her very best.

One thing is for certain, Brooke White's performance will be talked about and remembered, even more so than some of the other contestants who outperformed her -- and drama is going to win her some extra votes. But unfortunately for Brooke White, another certainty of the upcoming American Idol Elimination Show is that she will be joining two other dismal contestants in the 'bottom three.' I'm still a big Brooke White fan, and I'm predicting that she'll hang on another week...but it's going to be a close one!