Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Once again this week, our remaining Idols will be left to their own devices.

I mean, the theme is songs from the years of their birth. So each should have the freedom to pick a song that fits his or her musical style.

Of course, that nearly spelled disaster for Anoop Desai and Matt Giraud last week.

Will Anoop insist on playing the R&B stud, a role he can’t pull off? Will Matt insist on playing rock star, a role the judges don’t think he can pull off?

We’ll find out Tuesday when Idol tries to squeeze a peformance show into a one-hour time slot.

Speaking of years of their birth, Idol has posted baby/kid photos of the top 10. Here’s a link.

It’s fun to guess who’s who without looking at the names. Guaranteed, you’ll be able to pick out Allison Iraheta and Megan Joy in a heartbeat.

Adam Lambert? Not nearly so easy.

Here are this week’s rankings for the final eight. Very little movement, which means, four weeks in, I think I’m getting a better read on the contestants’ hype versus potential.

Here goes …

8. Scott MacIntyre (8th last week): I don’t know what the judges were hearing last week when Scott mimicked Billy Joel. I heard another subpar performance. And Scott in a leather jacket? That was worse than Scott in pink pants.

7. Matt Giraud (7th last week): Two straight weeks in the bottom three means Matt needs a killer performance in week five to turn things around. Thing is, you could tell by his expression he thought he turned in a killer performance in week four, only to get panned by the judges.

6. Anoop Desai (6th last week): Wannabe Usher didn’t go over with the judges any better than Anoop’s wannabe Michael Jackson back in week one. Which leaves Anoop precisely where? Well, what ballads were hot back in 1986? “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Ritchie? Nah, Anoop can’t pull that off. Hey, Anoop, Janet Jackson released “Nasty” that year.

5. Lil Rounds (5th last week): Will this be the week Lil lives up to her potential? She hasn’t landed in the bottom three this year, but she also hasn’t turned in a memorable performance. The judges keep harping on her for picking the wrong songs. Would Tina Turner’s “Whats Love Got To Do with It” be an improvement? It was released in Lil’s birth year (1984).

4. Allison Iraheta (4th last week): Speaking of winding up in the bottom three, Allison has been there twice. Inexplicably. So, Allison, here’s some advice: Keep the rock edge; ditch the outlandish outfits. I now envision Allison as the contestant most likely to be in need of — and most deserving of — a judges’ save.

3. Danny Gokey (2nd last week): Hey, this guy wasn’t all hype. He proved that with very solid performances the last two weeks. He’ll likely deliver something inspirational from his birth year of 1980, which means it’s unlikely he’ll try to sing Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall.” But that would be an interesting deviation, huh?

2. Kris Allen (3rd last week): Kris jumps a spot because I think he’s the only contestant who has even a remote shot at wrestling the Idol title from Adam. He’s got that likeability factor on his side. And to think, he got virtually no air time prior to the semifinal round.

1. Adam Lambert (1st since week one): Hasn’t stumbled badly yet, and he’s going to need to in order for someone to catch him. I loved the way he shared credit for last week’s updated rendition of “Play That Funky Music.”