Who do you like among this season’s Top 12 on American Idol? We’ll find out tonight when the guys and gals compete against one another for the first time on the top-rated TV show.

Hi, I’m Randy Salas (that’s me in my Technobabble guise) and I’ll be sharing Remote Island with its host, Star Tribune TV critic Neal Justin, and other guest bloggers for the duration of AI. We’ll kick off the weekly festivities now with my overview of the Top 12. But I’ll also be blogging live tonight during the show with comments about each performance and sticking around afterward to answer your questions and read your thoughts. So come back tonight for all the fun.

Now on to the show.

Ryan Seacrest and company keep telling us that this is the “best Idol group ever!” Hyperbole aside, in ranking this season’s Top 12, I decided that it really is a strong group — in talent, if not personality. We’re not just starting the Top 12, when just one singer leaves the show each week. No, tonight the super-duper big news is that AI has finally secured the rights to the historic John Lennon-Paul McCartney catalog. Of course, considering the way things have gone so far, the hubbub shouldn’t be that it’s Beatles night; it should be that we’re not going to hear anything by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey or Celine Dion.

Here’s how I rank the Top 12, from worst to first, based on what we’ve seen so far. This is just my take, not necessarily how I think they will place — but it’s an idea of that. Since tonight features songs by Lennon and McCartney, I’ve added my suggestions for tunes that are ideal for each singer (assuming songs credited to either Lennon or McCartney, too).

Amanda Overmyer: I actually liked the raspy-voiced Janis Joplin wannaba when she auditioned, but Simon Cowell warned that she had the potential to become a one-trick pony and, Lord, if that didn’t happen quickly three weeks ago. She should have been sent packing after her excruciatingly tuneless and phlegmatic rendition of Kansas’ “Carry on Wayward Son,” but viewers surely feared having to hear the song again as her farewell performance. By far, the best L-M song for her is Badfinger’s “Come and Get It,” but “Come Together” is a possibility.

Chikezie: Somewhere along the way, the soulful singer dropped his last name in his official bio on the show’s media-only site. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be long before viewers drop him. The dude can blow, as Randy Jackson might say, but he just doesn’t project much charisma and he has already flirted with being ousted. He should dial it down — again — with a smooth rendition of “Yesterday.”

Kristy Lee Cook: A fresh-faced stage presence and country-music niche give her tremendous potential once her AI run ends. Her countrified version of Journey’s “Faithfully” last week could be a radio hit now. But she doesn’t have much stylistic range beyond that, which will allow her to go only so far before the mandated musical themes catch up to her. I’m having trouble picking a tune for her, but let’s go with “A Day in the Life.”

Syesha Mercado: The part-time actress and model certainly has the looks, but they trump her singing ability. Maybe that’s why she’s constantly mugging for the camera, to distract us. She also embodies the whole Mariah/Celine/Whitney diva-tude that grows tiresome, but without the chops to pull it off. Let’s go against type with “Revolution.”

Ramiele Malubay: This little dynamo has the whole diva thing going, too, but purely from a song selection standpoint not attitude. She could go further than I expect, as the similar Jasmine Trias did a few seasons ago, but she can’t go the distance. She could shine with a sweet ballad such as “She’s Leaving Home.”

David Hernandez: He unexpectedly wowed everyone with a killer rendition of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” two weeks ago, showing that he has mad potential. If he maintains that, he could go further, but it won’t happen by covering power ballads, which he did last week with “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” His dramatic flair could be put to good use on “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.”

David Cook: It’s hard to get that ghastly comb-over out of my mind, but this year’s male rocker actually has Chris Daughtry-like musical potential, if not his looks — and maybe that will be his downfall. Last week’s angst-ridden, electrified version of Lionel Ritchie’s “Hello” — Lionel Ritchie! — was downright brilliant. I’d love to hear his take on “Magical Mystery Tour,” a` la the Cheap Trick version.
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Jason Castro: This bright-eyed performer, he of the goofy grin and shy camera presence, makes refreshing song choices with cool arrangements, which is why he might wear thin with voters — that and his nasty dreads. Still, he’s the dark horse among the guys. I could easily see him do “A World Without Love,” an L-M song written for Peter and Gordon, or “Across the Universe.”

Carly Smithson: There is no doubt that this Irish transplant has the talent, looks and intangibles to go the distance. She should: She once had a recording contract with a major label that produced a highly promoted worldwide release that failed to catch on before she was dropped. I have no idea why she’s being given a second chance on AI; she has already had (and lost) what all the others are trying to win. That kind of sticks in my craw. She’s got a “Ticket to Ride,” but do I care?

Brooke White: I love her earnestness and plaintive vocals. She has the solo female songwriter vibe that recalls artists such as Norah Jones and K.T. Tunstall and that could translate into a successful recording career once her AI run ends. Tonight, it has to be an acoustic version of  “Eleanor Rigby.”

Michael Johns: He’s the thunder from Down Under. Like Smithson, he was discovered by a recording label, in his native Australia, but without the same kind of reach that she received. Whatever. (I think I just need to get over it.) There’s no doubt that the guy is a pro. It’s just unfortunate that he’s in his late 20s but looks as if he’s closer to 40. He could work it out on “We Can Work It Out.”

David Archuleta: Sure, he’s a cute little fella. Sure, he can sing. Sure, he has an endearing “Aw shucks!” demeanor. But none can match his greatest asset: the unbridled voting power of millions of screaming preteen girls. That he holds tremendous appeal to their older sisters, moms and grandmothers is just icing on the cake. This year’s competition really looks like the David Archuleta countdown. I know the judges have told him to stop doing ballads, but “The Long and Winding Road” would be prophetic.

What do you think? Come back tonight.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 8:28 am and is filed under American Idol. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.