Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The way I figure it, four of the remaining 10 guys are pretty much locks to make the season nine American Idol finals.

Included in that group: Andrew Garcia, Michael Lynche, Casey James and Aaron Kelly.

I’d like to add Lee DeWyze to the list, because I think he’s equal in talent to any of those four.

Which leaves precious little margin of error for the remaining guys. Remember, only six guys make the finals.

Here are the week two rankings. The number behind each contestant’s name indicates where I had them ranked in week one.

1. Andrew Garcia (1): He was in this spot last week and here he remains until someone tops that brilliant performance of “Straight Up” that he turned in during Hollywood Week. He might not have been the best on Wednesday, but he wasn’t far behind.

2. Lee DeWyze (5): The paint sales clerk with two CDs to his credit has a tone to his voice that I really like. And after Randy and Kara got done trashing his performance of “Chasing Cars” in week one, Mr. Cranky himself (that would be Simon) proclaimed it the “best performance by a mile.” I had it graded as the best of the night, too.

3. Michael Lynche (2): Plaid shirt? Guitar? Someone’s undergoing a bit of an image makeover. Could this possibly be the sunglass-wearing, hip-hop/R&B performer who proclaims himself “part soul machine, part booty shaker, part baby maker” on his old MySpace site?

4. Casey James (4): Ear candy? Did Kara really call him ear candy? Aren’t you embarrassed for yourself Ms. DioGuardi? Hey, his version of “Heaven” wasn’t bad, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t thinking ear candy when I heard it. Please judges, a little less silliness when he’s performing this week. For Casey’s sake.

5. Aaron Kelly (9): This lad from Sonestown, Pa., wisely stuck to his country-pop forte in week one and would be wiser not to stray from it. The Idol judges are clearly casting him as the cute, likeable young guy in this year’s competition, a niche that could carry him far.

6. Jermaine Sellers (7): I’m really not sure what to make of Jermaine. He doesn’t seem at all intimidated by the Idol stage. And he’s stylish. But his week one version of “Get Here” was an odd combination of sweet notes and screaming.

7. Tim Urban (6): Last week, Simon pretty much dismissed the guy who replaced Chris Golightly in the semifinals, saying Tim’s rendition of “Apologize” proved the judges were right in passing on him in the first place. Wonder what that says about the three singers who follow him on this list, all of whom did notably worse a week ago.

8. John Park (8): There were parts of his version of “God Bless This Child” that I couldn’t even understand in week one. What was it Shania Twain saw in him? Ah, yes, the look. Let’s just say John has lots to prove in week two.

9. Alex Lambert (10): The jump from playing for 20 people at a coffee house to singing for 30 million on the Idol stage isn’t easy. Just ask Alex, who seemed in way over his head with his performance of “Wonderful World.” Clearly, he entered the competition with less stage experience that last year’s Lambert.

10. Todrick Hall (12): Simon said he “murdered” Kelly Clarkson’s “Already Gone” and called his rearrangement “verging on stupid.” You know what’s really stupid, Simon? Boasting on MySpace about your original version of the Wizard of Oz, bragging about a national tour of that show and not even acknowledging or apologizing for the canceled dates. Now that’s stupid.