Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol promised to serve up better themes in Season 13.

By better, I think they meant themes that give the singers a broader range of options, including the option to sing something current.

So far, the show has followed up on that promise.

This year’s theme is “home,” meaning the singers can pick a song that was popular during their childhood or one that could serve as a tribute to their hometown.

The theme is appropriate because Phillip Phillips — Season 11 champ and singer of the mega-hit “Home” — will be one of the guest artists on Thursday’s results show.

He’ll be singing his new single, “Raging Fire.” And if you haven’t heard it, you should take a listen here.

An Irish rock band named Kodaline will also perform Thursday night.

Ah, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First there’s the second night of the finals.

And that means it’s time to rank the remaining 12.

1. Sam Woolf, 17, Bradenton, Fla. (1): Says Jena Irene to Sam as the Idols drive to dinner: “Did you see how that girl started crying just because you touched her?” Replies Sam: “What am I supposed to do?” Responds Jena: “Stop touching people.” That exchange explains why Sam is still here despite a first-week performance that was more solid than special.

2. Jena Irene (Asciutto), 17, Farmington Hills, Mich. (2): Speaking of Jena, she’s taken the stage for three live performances so far and she’s been pretty special every time, confirming my suspicion that she’s a legitimate Season 13 contender. The fact that she needed a wild card might work to her benefit because it meant everyone got to see that brilliant performance of “Unbreakable Me.”

3. Majesty Rose, 21, Goldsboro, N.C. (3): Doesn’t this young lady look like a natural on stage? Some of the Top 13 seemed a tab overwhelmed by the Idol stage last week. Not Majesty. After performing “Happy” and “Tightrope” — a pair of upbeat songs — the past two weeks, I won’t be surprised if Majesty plays guitar and slows things down this week.

4. Ben Briley, 24, Gallatin, Tenn. (4): The reviews were mixed, but I loved Ben’s take on “Folsom Prison Blues” last week. It was the most imaginative reworking of a song we saw from the Top 13 and the little celebratory leap at the end was a nice touch, too. Among the trio of male country singers, Ben took round one.

5. Caleb Johnson, 22, Asheville, N.C. (6) Normally, I prefer when Idol gives singers a chance to sing more current material. Last week, performing last, I almost wish Caleb had reached into the show’s classic rock songbook. I think he missed a chance at a moment. That said, he performed well enough to move up a spot in these rankings.

6. Jess Meuse, 23, Slapout, Ala.: (7) I’m still not certain how Idol voters are going to respond to Jess long-term. “The Crow and the Butterfly” is a little darker than the songs we’re used to hearing on the show. I know that I think she’s one of the most original and intriguing among the Top 13. Not to mention much improved last week.

7. Alex Preston, 20, Mont Vernon, N.H. (5): I’m siding with Harry Connick Jr. when it came to the critiques of Alex’s week one performance. It came off as a wee bit “too inward.” As for the vocal, it sorta matched the song’s title, “Beautiful Mess.” Alex has a unique tone, to be sure, but singing for the masses matters on a show like this.

8. Emily Piriz, 18, Orlando, Fla. (10): I was prepared to hate her performance of “Glitter in the Air.” When I heard about the song choice, I think my reaction was: “Yikes.” But while her performance might have lacked some of the edge that is present in nearly every Pink song, Emily showed off more vocal prowess than I thought she possessed.

9. C.J. Harris, 23, Jasper, Ala. (11): He’s performed three times and given us three middling performances. The good news is that he’s really likeable and will probably have a couple more weeks to find his footing on the Idol stage before he faces any fear of elimination. My suggestion: No more Darius Rucker songs.

10. Dexter Roberts, 22, Fayette, Ala. (9): I was a little confused by Dexter’s song choice last week. I mean, “Aw Naw” was not a country mega hit. More concerning in the long run is the fact that, for a guy with a big personality, Dexter’s vocal didn’t come off very big. Most of the time, he was drowned out by the band.

11. M.K. Nobilette, 20, San Francisco, Calif. (8): The judges acted as though stage presence was M.K.’s biggest problem last week. Hmm. What about that tortured vocal? Let’s just say her performance of “Satisfaction” (the Allen Stone tune, not the Rolling Stones song) isn’t something I want to hear again.

12. Makalya Watson, 16, Southfield, Mich. (13): Makayla’s last two performances could best be described as frenetic, and the teen admits she has trouble calming down on stage. That being the case, she might want to take Ryan’s advice and sit behind her keyboards Wednesday night. Based on week one performance, she should have gone home last week.