Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Maybe, just maybe, American Idol’s ratings are in a nosedive because of the show’s blatant attempts to manipulate the outcome.

Never was it more apparent than Wednesday night.

Angie Miller performs Wednesday night on American Idol. (FOX Photo)

I mean, the judges might as well have flashed the words on that enormous Idol backdrop in neon letters during every performance.

In all caps, no less.

WE LOVE AMBER.

KREE SHOULD GO HOME NEXT.

Which would be fine if the performances justified that opinion.

On Wednesday night, they didn’t. Not even close.

And they haven’t throughout Season 12, which is what made Wednesday’s show so infuriating.

Oh, well, no sense in wasting time on a long intro. No one’s going home tomorrow night anyway.

That’s the twist Ryan promised us. As I wrote earlier today, Idol, in its idiocy, doesn’t even have enough contestants to get through the end of the season.

And, readers, I apologize for the fact that I couldn’t get those caps above in neon.

I don’t think my blog does neon.

Kree Harrison performs Wednesday night on American Idol. (FOX Photo)

Best of the Night: At this stage of the competition, the top four should be looking to deliver moments — performances fans will remember at the end of the night. That’s what Angie Miller did in round one, sitting behind her piano and delivering an impassioned version of Jessie J’s “Who You Are.” On an evening of too tepid performances, Nicki Minaj said it best: “You came out tonight to snatch some wigs off some heads, honey child.” Translation: Unless something drastic happens, Angie proved she belongs in the Idol finale.

Runner-up: Candice Glover said she was suffering from a bad cold on Wednesday. You never would have known it from her vocals, which were especially splendid on her duet with Angie Miller, when they sang Rihanna’s “Stay.” Candice’s vocal superiority makes the judges’ constant praise of Amber even more baffling. That said, if this were a two-gal race between Candice and Angie, Candice lost ground Wednesday because neither of her solo song choices was very good.

Worst of the night: Amber Holcomb. Easily. Without question. Her a cappella opening on “Power of Love” was the best she’s sounded this season. But, regardless of what the judges said, Kree out-sang her during their performance of Adele’s “Rumor Has It.” And I keep reading how Amber might be the most commercially viable of the final four. Yet the moment “MacArthur Park” shifted into high gear, her vocal crumbled into pieces all over the Idol stage. So, she’s going to be commercially viable singing Barbra Streisand ballads? Really?

Please keep her: Kree Harrison, not Amber Holcomb, deserves the final spot in the Top 3. She deserves it because she has outperformed Amber since Season 12 began. She deserves it because she outperformed her again Wednesday night. But she should also listen very closely to Keith Urban’s critiques, because they were dead on. She keeps delivering wonderful vocals on “middle ground songs.” That won’t cut it when Candice is delivering vocal fireworks and Angie is delivering fireworks of all sorts.

For the song by song blog, head here.