If Season 13 represents a change for the better (i.e. fresh music, fair and honest judging, strong casting), I hope you will be there, even if I can follow you on Twitter.

And I gotta say, on Facebook, I am quite shocked at how I could see that there ARE Randy and J.Blow fans out there, especially on the Idol page. We’re those folks living under a rock or what? For what it’s worth, both remind me of that guy in the corner of the bar who always tells a story about their glory days, even if no one’s listening, especially Randy. It was a long time coming for him, really.

Thanks for your years of AI thoughts.

If you change your mind, I’ll be back next year.

Best wishes.

It really is all about the TV show and we need to wrap our heads around that. Do you really think record sales could have paid Mariah Carey’s $17,000,000 salary? Or Ryan’s $30,000,000? But this week they did what they could to get Candice in and didn’t throw any garbage Angie’s way but somehow only half their plan worked. I will say there is not a lot of “I’m boycotting the final” talk amongst the blogosphere like we generally hear. The trick is to glom onto who the producers think will be the best television. And I will say usually I at least have a favorite in the final. So I guess I’m happier than most. With the exception of Siobhan, Elise, and Pia most of mine have made it to at least the final 4.

Still I am pleasantly pleased with this outcome. Not that I didn’t like Angie, I did, but for me she reminded me of the manufactured Pop singers of the current top 40 with the exception of actually having a personality and being able to sing. Wheras Kree makes me feel she is her song. And Candice can do things with her voice no one ever on Idol has before. No not even the great Melinda.

It will be interesting next week. In a way I was kind of hoping Kree and Angie could face off with their original music. But teh best vocal standoff will take place instead. And if Kree does get to sing her original music, specifically “You Would Have Wanted It That Way”, we will have another Country winner on Idol.

I’ll admit I was wrong in the last paragraph. Kree and Candice’s troops rallied.

However, the performers weren’t particularly familiar with their songs and had a very limited window to learn them. Under the circumstances, they all did a fine job.

I listened to just the last half of the show. I’m not sure why we don’t get longer stretches. With 90 second snippets, the singing is over before I’m ready to say goodbye. Only about 10% of the show is singing.

Unlike most people, I was disappointed in Candice’s last song. Somewhere is such an iconic choice for me. West Side Story is my favorite musical. Candice’s voice sounded a little strained. I was reminded of her earlier perfect Lovesong and felt a little let down.

I wonder if Kree’s and Angie’s supporters will be motivated to vote their fingers off. There was more than a little throwing Kree under the bus particularly with the song choices. Kree’s hometown visit was very emotional. Finally, I didn’t care for Keith’s comment that if we didn’t feel motivated to vote for Candice we didn’t have a pulse. Although I didn’t vote, I almost felt challenged to vote for someone else.

Any of the women would be a fine winner. I think Angie’s the winner unless something amazing happens.