Love me some Carole King!!

Carole King is my hero!

When you can write songs so well that anyone sounds good singing them, you automatically achieve hero status.

Wow! This was an amazing night on Idol. At this point, it's anybody's game. I loved the feedback that Jimmy Iovine and Babyface gave the contestants this week. I think they are really taking time to bring out the artistry (as Kara DioGuardi would say) in each contestant.

So here are my thoughts about each contestant tonight. I've put them in order from most favorite to least favorite. I even critiqued the duets. Well...most of them. :-) Let me know if you agree...


*** To see Melinda's comments on the Top 6, visit HitFix.com and join her Idol Fantasy League while you're there!

IDOL Rock & Roll HOF Week: A departure from niceties...

I. MISS. SIMON.

Maybe it’s because I’m in a very punchy mood tonight, but I thought the judges were way too nice. So, in honor of Simon, I have written a brutally honest review with the help of my closest girlfriends. Enter at your own risk.

Jacob Lusk “Man In The Mirror”

I totally respected him for choosing a song he believed in, however, I was a little distracted by all of the hip thrusting in the Saturday Night Fever suit. Why does the man in the mirror have to be dressed in all white? Very cool to have Saidah Garrett there, but not sure their pitch matched up that well. Also, I believe skipping is hazardous to your vibrato. Not even gonna discuss the booty bump with Ryan at the end of the show.

Haley Reinhart “Piece of My Heart”

Loved the L.A.M.B. top and leggings...so cute! (Now, I’m being Paula.) I blame the judges for this one. No one can ever be Janis Joplin. She looked uncomfortable at the prospect of even trying to take it on. The only time she settled in was the last third of the song when she quit trying to be Janis and was just Haley.

Casey Abrams “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”

Loved the arrangement with the upright bass, although, I wouldn’t call it “revolutionary”. (Esperanza Spalding, anyone?) You know I love Casey’s tone, but he does need to be careful about chewing the ends of his phrases. Loved the part at the end when he took it high and cascaded down. This was one of the only times I agreed with the judges tonight. I’ll be sitting next to Jennifer Lopez on the front row of his concert.

...To see the rest of Melinda's individual performance comments, visit her blog on HitFix.com!

(And while you're there, sign up to compete against her in her American Idol Fantasy League!)