Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The American Idol Top 6 of Alejandro Aranda, Jerremiah Lloyd Harmon, Wade Cota, Laine Hardy, Laci Kaye Booth and Madison VanDenburg. (ABC Photo)

For two weeks, the American Idol judges have resisted the temptation to use their one and only save for Season 17.

They’ve walked Dimitrius Graham, Walker Burroughs, Uche and Alyssa Raghu head home without jumping to the rescue.

Don’t be surprised if they use that save this week.

For one thing, two singers are supposed to head home this week, and that means at least one of the judges’ favorites will be in jeopardy when Ryan Seacrest announces the live voting results at the end of the night.

Then there’s the fact that Sunday marks the judges’ final chance to use that save. Next Sunday, voters will pick their Season 17 finalists. And the save rules don’t allow the judges to hand pick a finalist.

Here are my new Idol rankings. The number in parenthesis indicates where the singer was ranked last week.

Each singer will perform twice Sunday, delivering an emotional song and covering a song performed at Woodstock back in 1969.

Be sure to check back Sunday for song by song grades!

1. Laine Hardy (1): Never, ever, did I think a cover of “Fat Bottomed Girls” would be my favorite Queen night performance on American Idol. Laine made it so with a cover that might not have been the night’s best vocal but was certainly the night’s most fun.

2. Laci Kaye Booth (3): Quick, someone send Laci a link to Celia Babini’s Voice cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” Laci says Stevie Nicks is her favorite artist. If she could tap into her inner Stevie and rock out just once, that sultry voice might end up where it belongs, in the Season 17 finals.

3. Madison VanDenburg (2): Katy Perry wants hair flips. I just want Madison in the Top 4. She slipped a bit on Queen week, but she’s established herself as the most versatile singer on the show and should handle both of this week’s themes with relative ease.

4. Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon (4): The key reason Jeremiah lands behind the three singers above is the lack of versatility he’s shown. It’s been one emotional ballad after another after another. Though most have been very, very well done. And, Idol, now that his parents have seen him sing, can we please, pretty please, focus on the music?

5. Alejandro Aranda (5): Alejandro’s biggest problem might be the expectation Idol created when it proclaimed his audition the show’s best ever. He’s a superb musician and he’s been solid, but I haven’t seen “best ever,” especially not in the past two weeks.

6. Wade Cota (7): Watch his reaction. Wade seemed totally shocked to be voted into the Top 6 last week. Maybe that’s because “We Are the Champions” should have been a slam dump and turned out to be anything but. My guess: He’ll bounce back big time in the Woodstock round.

See also …
Another former Idol contestant mentors Top 6
Gabby Barrett returning to American Idol
Woodstock 1969, American Idol style