I'm a Little Bit Country

Wow, Brunie and I are "simul"blogging, first time all season, I think! And her post only confirms what I already believed to be true: It's Opposite Day in the Chardonnay household, as I rarely agreed with the judges and agree with Brunie only once. Which means that Big Mike is for sure going home, but you didn't hear it from me.

Despite the above title and my obsession with the soundtrack of Crazy Heart and my subsequent doomed crush on Waylon Jennings (I just feel we have no future), I'm not a country music lover and knew very few of these songs. I still had a good time tonight, though, and I must say that Shania — based on what she elicited from our Idolettes — is one fine mentor.

Lee opened the show, looking and sounding a bit sleepy; he started to rouse himself toward the middle and it got better, but it was never electric, and Lee is capable of more than this. But then the judges cheer and huzzah, and I grow confused.

Mike's up next, and I start to frown. He just sounds — hmm, what's a word that means "not good"? That's how he sounds. I actually write the word "girly," then I feel bad. But his voice is all high and breathy and — oh, it does not sound good. But the first three judges are celebrating Opposite Day with a vengeance, and they smite my opinion! Ow!

Except: then Simon says "girly" and I have the proverbial cow. Mimosa came running to see what the ungodly noise was. (Me, cow — she went back to her magazine.)

(Neither of my kids will watch Idol any more. They are done with this season. I muster my wits and carry on, for the sake of the blog, don'tcha know.)

I do love that Mike made Shania cry. That was sweet.

Casey says he's going to step up, and I grow excited and hopeful, because I've been waiting for this for a long time. And it's not a particularly challenging song, it seems to me, but nonetheless, he does push his voice to places I haven't heard from him yet. I am really impressed. His performance reminded me, in an odd way, of Siobhan's version of "Across the Universe," with its quiet tempo and technical precision (though halfway into the song, Casey did rock it out). I really really really liked this, and the judges have finished celebrating their contrariness and finally agreed to hear what I hear. Ellen even used the words "Bob Seger," which I have applied to Casey in the past and which made me feel very musically astute. You know, like Ellen.

Crystal looks adorable and is oddly subdued. She sounds okay but not great. "Okay Crystal" is still better than, say, "Great Mike," but still. I'm disappointed.

(Though having Crystal falter makes the competition a bit more interesting, perhaps. I don't tend to watch the Wednesday night shows, even though I'm in that wacky minority that looooooves the Up with People group numbers — it's just me, Ryan Seacrest, and Snuggles the Fabric Softener Bear — but I am rather curious about tomorrow night's results.)

Sweet little Aaron sits sweetly on his stool, and I prepare for his weekly song of sweetness. And then my jaw drops, because, my goodness, turning 17 has made a man of our sweet baby! He sounds great and assured, and it's a very confident, mature performance. The judges are likewise impressed, and we all beam with pride. Which Aaron accepts, sweetly.

Siobhan is closing, and I have high hopes; I haven't seen her in a week, and her last two performances before that were not so great. And I really want to like this . . . but there is just so much going on! From her busy, busy outfit to her big country band to her relentless pacing to her big affected attitude (the better to sing this song, my dear) — it all kind of overwhelms her voice, which is just too small at the beginning to stand up to all that big busy-ness. And then she finds her signature glory notes . . . and they get away from her, a little bit. It was interesting, and kind of fun, I guess, but not the best Siobhan performance by a long shot, and I am starting to worry that she's lost herself.

So that was our show, and man! I feel like a woman. Don't you?

My favorites of the night were Casey and Aaron, both of whom made me cry a little. In my Mama Bear way, I'm just so proud of both of them!

Going home, as I said, will likely be Mike, who's been voted out before; tonight's performance won't have anyone power-dialing for him. And Lee will be in the bottom three. But will one of our golden girls join him there? This may be enough to get me to watch a results show after all.

Up with People 4-Evah! Lady Chardonnay, out!