Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Apparently, dreams do come true for American Idol contestants.

Take Karen Rodriguez for instance.

Last week on Idol, she discussed her sister Karol’s obsession with Nick Jonas

So, what happens today?

Karen appears on Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show. She starts talking about her future now that she’s been eliminated with Idol.

And, presto, there’s Nick Jonas, who not only met with Karen, but took the time to make a phone call to her sister.

Go here for photos and video of the segment.

Hey, nice gesture, Ryan.

Meanwhile, Haley Reinhart and Naima Adedapo might want to get their wish lists ready for Ryan.

They’re next in the Idol firing line. This week’s ranking, with last week’s in parenthesis.

1. Casey Abrams (1): Last week, he got high praise from the judges for being fearless, singing Nirvana and, basically, acting like a madman on stage. But if you closed your eyes and just listened, what you would have heard was a vocal that was nothing special, more scream than substance. That said, several of the contestants below should take a lesson from Casey on how to cut loose on stage.

2. Scotty McCreery (2): An interesting week for Scotty because it’s Motown Week. That means he’ll be forced to sing something other than good-ole’-boy country for the first time since Beatles Day in Vegas. And you’ll recall the judges weren’t thrilled by that performance. Here’s betting Scotty prevails and finds a Motown classic he can twist to his liking.

3. Pia Toscano (3): One of those contestants I’d like to see cut loose on stage, Casey Abrams style. She’s already proven she can sing as well as anyone in the competition, now she needs to prove she can entertain an audience. Or perform in a way that will sell CDs post-Idol.  Come on, Pia, time for less diva and a little more pizzazz.

4. Stefano Langone (7): Yep, Stefano moves up three spots on my list. Because, last week, while nearly everyone else was falling flat vocally, he turned in his best performance yet. If he can build off that, he’ll soon join the Idol frontrunners.  Heady stuff for a contestant who looked like the weakest of the guys heading into the finals.

5. Lauren Alaina (4): She took on Melissa Etheridge last week and, well, let’s just say I wasn’t nearly as impressed as the Idol judges. Especially after hearing Crystal Bowersox sing Melissa so much better last season. Lauren’s slumped a little since starting strong, but she probably has at least three more weeks before she has anything to fret about.

6. James Durbin (5): I’m just going to assume James’ off-key rendition of Bon Jovi’s “I’ll be There for You” was just an aberration. If not, James shouldn’t be too hasty in selecting Aerosmith songs for his duet with Steven Tyler on Idol’s season finale. James might be the only contestant who needs to dial down the on-stage antics a bit so he can concentrate on the vocals.

7. Paul McDonald (6): I listen to his downloads, and I hear a singer capable of winning American Idol. But the Paul who shows up on stage doesn’t display the same magic. Granted, last week, he was battling the flu. But it’s time for Paul to reassert himself as a potential finalist in season 10. Motown Week might be just the ticket.

8. Jacob Lusk (8): I admire his vocal abilities. I admire the passion he pours into every performance. Now I’d like him to deliver a performance I enjoy. Take Jacob’s take on Heart’s “Alone.” Parts were glorious. Parts were overwrought. More than anything, it left me confused. And I somehow doubt it won Jacob lots of new fans.

9. Haley Reinhart (9): The gal with the bluesy voice, the gal who has dodged elimination two straight weeks, will probably have no choice but to pick a bluesy song on Motown Week. Good thing, because I’ve yet to figure out what her song selection strategy is. “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston was particularly mind-boggling.

10. Thia Megia (9): She promised during last week’s results show that she’s not just a ballad singer. Well, Thia, time to prove it. Because, to this point, you’ve done little to prove you belong in this competition. And, post-Idol, I can’t imagine you’ll sell many records singing songs from old Disney movies.

11. Naima Adedapo (12): I thought Naima would bring musical diversity to the Idol finals. She’s delivered little, and that lame rendition of  “What’s Love Got to Do with It” should have earned her the heave-ho. Though I’ve placed Thia between them, Haley and Naima are the contestants most in danger heading into Wednesday night.