Top 3 -- someone is in it to win it!

First, read this -- an article by Michael Slezak in last week's NYT Style Section who could be me, but who officially gets paid by Entertainment Weekly to write the online blogs about American Idol every time it is on. I read his blog every morning post Idol -- hey you read my blog, right? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/fashion/16Idol.html?ref=fashion

Here is the top 3 fight for the finale -- a song by judge's choice, and a song by their own choice. Finale is definitely going to be Lee and Crystal as it should be. But I will vote regardless. Michael Slezak watches the show and then blogs, I normally watch as I blog. But I don't get paid to do it, and only 4 or 5 of my readers comment, therefore, I cannot afford my time to watch, take notes, then write. Plus I am smart and can come up with a thesis in the edit.

Casey -- He starts off the night -- hmmm producers obviously want Crystal and Lee in the finale so Casey goes first. "It's Alright By Me" which I don't know. I actually agree with Randy that the choice was too safe. Casey, do you want to win? This was not the song to choose. You had all your choice and this was not big enough. Ellen thought he should blow us away. He didn't. Kara and Simon said he shouldn't have chosen this song to win it. I agree. Casey needs a good producer to work with who will guide him on song choice. Because he will not win this contest, but if a good producer believes in him, he could have a good career. BUH BYE

Crystal -- "Come to My Window" Great choice I think, and she chose it to have fun. She brought the harmonica back, but I'm not sure why. "I Don't Care What They Think, I Don't Care What They Say" (lyrics from the song) I think Crystal actually believes this. She did a strong concise job with a song she likes and was laid back about it. It was good, but really this blew it out of the box? This gets someone to the final two? I just don't think she believes she needs to win it to win it anymore. I think Crystal thinks, just get by and win and then be who you want to be. Don't worry about winning. Simon thinks she was honest and this was the song that proves she always stood by who she is. I'm sorry, but show some heart and energy. She doesn't seem to care.

Come on Lee -- you seem to actually be nervous on this show -- you must believe in this journey. Prove it! And he did. "Simple Man" Lee picked a song that related to his journey and it showed from note one. He sang it and put his whole heart in. Finally a contestant is in it to win it. Randy agreed wholeheartedly. "Somebody here is feeling like he can win this!" Ellen thinks he is taking it seriously, Kara said he did what every contestant should do -- and round 1 goes to Lee. Simon asked him why he picked it and allowed Lee to explain his connection. Simon felt his song choice was on the money and that he crushed the other two contestants and this actually excited Lee. Lee is the only contestant that actually cares and it shows. This is who deserves it!

Randy and Kara have to team up to choose a song for Casey. "Daughters" by John Mayer. Good choice I think. Relevant, modern, come on Casey, you know you are number three, but Crystal doesn't seem to be in it to win it, so blow it away. I don't know if Casey can beat Crystal and I don't think he should, but this gives him a great send off -- could he record a John Mayer type of record? Yes. So no matter what, he can keep his head held high. Randy appreciated his own song choice. Ellen did too. Kara thought this showed his artistic choice. Simon thought it was a lazy song choice and they should have given Casey a bigger vocal moment and Kara fought that this song was about an emotional climax as opposed to a vocal climax. Once again, I wish it was totally stripped down to create that moment. Basically, it leaves Casey with a solid send off, not a trip to top 2. BUH BYE again

Ellen gets to choose Crystal's song. She chooses "Baby I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney. Will this give her a moment? Crystal isn't playing an instrument. You know what she proves? If you can sing, you don't have to change it that much, you don't have to change the arrangement. Wow -- she blew it out of the park and sang it with emotion and moved around. But she kept saying Baby I'm a man -- I guess the gender bending doesn't matter to Ellen, but it did kind of stand out to me. Crystal rocked it -- she sang her heart out and gave it her spin and added a gospel moment. Randy said great song, great vocal and Crystal is in it to win it too. Ellen was so happy. Kara thought she showed parts of her voice we haven't heard and did it without an instrument. Simon doubted the song choice but thought Crystal proved she has soul and that she will be thanking Ellen for putting her in the final. I want Crystal to be excited and thankful and exhalted and she simply is not. Okay I'll save this argument for the end.

Lee -- gets Simon's choice. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. Simon admits we have heard this song before and he wants Simon to get a moment. I personally feel this song is overdone -- Jeff Buckley, Jason Castro on Idol, Tim Urban just this season, JT and Matt Morrison on the Haiti Relief Telethon this year -- too many versions, too hard to compare and I don't think this is Lee's voice match up at all -- he has never been a falsetto singer so it will be a challenge for him to pull this off. I took my hands off the keyboard to listen. Lee took it to a rocker zone -- not the stripped down version. Somehow he got to have the backup singers come out like a gospel choir. He went falsetto but also rocked it harder. He played the guitar, he had emotion. He had emotion and hit the notes. Michael Slezak thinks he was off key several times this season. Simon was proud. I was proud. Randy said Lee throwed down the real gauntlet to win the whole thing. Lee was unbelievable. Lee thanked Simon for the song choice. Ellen said thank you to Simon for the song choice because it was stunning. Kara said Lee is what this show is all about -- "somebody who starts in one place and ends up here tonight in an incredible epic moment. You are the heart of this show this season and you just owned the entire night" I could not have said it better myself. Simon said he is very very very proud of Lee. Lee's lip was trembling. Simon said he proved he is a fantastic singer, a great person and Simon hopes he makes it through to next week.

This is why I love Lee. I want to see someone's dream come true -- I don't care if he or she is slick or well spoken or camera ready. This show is about the person who can touch my heart and who I can believe in. I am ready to love talent, plain and simple. Will the winner always become a superstar? We don't always know. But I believe in the ones who have genuine talent and are willing to continue to work their asses off and fight -- as Daughtry said, stay hungry. They deserve to win. Lee was the only one who proved he is hungry tonight. He will definitely need to continue to work hard, but he has the heart that makes this show for me.

LEE, LEE, LEE. Oh and tomorrow I have thoughts on the end of Simon, but first read the NYT article - it is good and it explains a lot of me.

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...they can still touch you.