Idol Chatter & Voice Views

So, I return from vacation to find three new American Idol videos to watch.

Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina and Pia Toscano released videos for their debut singles last week.

So, just for fun, let’s rank the three.

1. Pia Toscano: “This Time” — I have no idea what the beach has to do with Pia’s song about ditching a lover, but putting the dark-haired beauty in that setting is a no-brainer, right?

To Pia’s credit, the gal who had trouble cutting loose on the Idol stage looks perfectly at home on camera. To whoever deserves the credit, they resisted the temptation to have Pia cavorting about that beach barely clothed.

After all, her voice should be the focus. Once again, we’re reminded that she probably had the best voice of the Season 10 finalists.

If “This Time” isn’t a hit, it won’t be for a lack of trying. Pia got to perform the song on the “So You Think You Can Dance” finale and again this week on “Regis and Kelly.”

2. Scotty McCreery: “Love You This Big” — Through the magic of editing or maturity, we’re spared most of the goofy expressions Scotty cast in the direction of American Idol viewers over the course of season 10.

Not that the expressions ever bothered me. I figure an Idol contestant who can deliver as consistently as Scotty did, and seem so natural on stage at such a young age, can be forgiven an eerie glance or two.

Scotty fans will be relieved to know he doesn’t find love in the video (a la Lee DeWyze). Or if he does it isn’t evident. What this video lacks is anything surprising. It’s almost as though Scotty strolled off the Idol stage and right onto a stage to perform at some sort of family reunion.

3. Lauren Alaina: “Like My Mother Does” — First the good news, Lauren Alaina never, ever looked better.

Now the bad: Her mother has nearly as much screen time in the video as Lauren does. I mean, didn’t we already see way too much of Mrs. Suddeth over the course of Season 10?

It doesn’t help that Lauren is singing a retread from Kristy Lee Cook’s post-Idol album. And it wasn’t even one of the best tracks off a very so-so album. Given Lauren’s uneven performance on Idol, KLC’s “I Think Too Much” might have been more fitting.

Lauren’s bombastic delivery of what’s supposed to be a sensitive song — heck, she even sheds a tear in the video — seems out of place, too. In my mind, not an impressive debut.

Of course, those are just my opinions. Watch all three and let me know what you think.