Idol Chatter & Voice Views

After watching Adam Lambert outperform everyone by a country mile last week, I thought to myself, “We might as well fast forward to country week.”

A couple of weeks ago, Adam told the media that country is the genre of music that would present him with his biggest challenge.

So I’m thinking, “Let’s go ahead and see if he can handle it.”

Besides, if he does as well at country music as he did at Michael Jackson music, I figure we can shave several weeks off the Idol process and go ahead and proclaim Adam the winner.

Guess what?

Here comes country week.

Grand Ole Opry Week to be more specific, with Randy Travis as guest mentor.

And probably lots of anxious Idol contestants right about now, because this isn’t a field filled with Carrie Underwoods, Bucky Covingtons or even Kristy Lee Cooks.

Here are the new rankings for the Idols, partly based on how well I think they’ll meet this week’s challenge.

And don’t forget to follow the live blog during Tuesday’s show. I’ll continue to grade each contestant after his or her performance.

Last week, Idol eliminated the contestants I had ranked 13th (Jasmine Murray) and 11th (Jorge Nunez). Which leaves …

11. Megan Joy (8th last week): I didn’t think Megan did that badly on “Rockin’ Robin” last week. But she’s another contestant who told the media country music is one of the genres with which she’s least comfortable. Add her lack of stage experience and last week’s lukewarm reviews, and I’m anticipating a tough week for Megan. Add to that this: She’s the current Vote for the Worst contestant. Not exactly a vote of confidence for the gal from Sandy, Utah.

10. Anoop Desai (7th last week): This guy is very, very fortunate to be around to sing another week after that bad karaoke version of “Beat It.” Next comes a country song. I can’t imagine that’s the style of music Anoop would have selected for his next number.

9. Matt Giraud (10th last week): I still haven’t heard a performance from Matt that I’ve really liked, though he got rave reviews from the judges last week when he slipped back behind the keyboards. I’m expecting him to try country music with a soulful touch this week. And, once again, I’m expecting I probably won’t like it as much as the judges, who seem quite taken with Matt.

8. Scott MacIntyre (5th last week): Like Matt, Scott seemed more at home last week when he could perform behind a piano. Like Matt, he turned in a so-so vocal. I’m beginning to think so-so vocals are the best we’re going to get from Scott. He sounded better in the YouTube videos, when he was performing with the MacIntrye Family Singers. Great guy. He just doesn’t have a great voice when matched up against some of this year’s other contestants.

7. Michael Sarver (9th last week): Potentially a big week for Michael, and a chance for him to raise his Idol stock because the theme falls into his wheelhouse. Remember, he sang country to earn a spot in the finals. So, Michael, here’s my advice: Pick a fun country song and reacquaint us with that powerful voice. Do that, and you just might be around for a while.

6. Kris Allen (12th last week): Pick a country song. Any country song. It has to fit Kris’ guitar better than last week, when he looked downright silly strumming along to Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time.” The judges seem to think the ladies are going to fall in love with Kris. If so, it won’t hurt his ability to stick around longer than I initially predicted. He makes the biggest jump this week, partly because I think I underrated his appeal, partly because I think he’ll do just fine going country.

5. Allison Iraheta (6th last week): Her rocker gal version of “Given To Me” was easily the second best performance of week one, though way behind Adam. Question is, what does the rocker teen do on country week? This much we know by now — Allison is not going to be intimidated by the Idol stage.

4. Lil Rounds (3rd last week): She has the best voice among all the female singers, right? I mean, that’s the way it looked heading into the semifinals. But she keeps selecting songs that don’t show off how great that voice is. I’m still waiting for a magical moment from Lil.

3. Danny Gokey (fourth last week): I had forgotten how overexcited Paula and Kara get every time Danny turns in an OK performance. I mean, the judges were pushing David Archuleta on us at this point last year, but at least he had already performed a sensational version of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Danny hasn’t come close to that yet, and Paula already has him in the finals.

2. Alexis Grace (2nd last week): The judges told Alexis to dirty up her look, and she complied. Then she really got down and dirty last week, which was appropriate, since she was singing Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana.” Country won’t be much of a stretch for Alexis. Remember, she sang the Carrie Underwood hit, “Before He Cheats,” as her final performance during Hollywood Week.

1. Adam Lambert (1st last week): There have been two remarkable performances on Idol so far this season — the two times Adam Lambert has performed. I can’t wait to see what he can do with a Grand Ole Opry song. Here’s a hunch. It won’t be boring.