by Gina Scarpa

It’s hard to believe that we’re already down to the final three this season on American Idol.  It seems like just yesterday that we were watching Tatiana Del Toro melt down.  Raise your hand if you’re happy those days are behind you.  The end is near and Danny, Adam, and Kris all have the finale within their reach.  In order to get there, they’ll have to pull off two songs tonight.  The contestants will get to choose one song and the judges will choose the other.  It should be interesting.  Here’s how tonight’s performances went down.

Danny Gokey - "Dance Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'Arby
Paula chose this song for Danny because he possesses a magical quality in his voice.  I think the leprechaun that lives in her closet told her to pick this one.  This song sounds old to me so I looked it up and it came out in 1988.  The downside to this is that in no way does it sound fresh or now.  The upside is that Danny rocks when it comes to singing and this song definitely showed off what he can do.  The judges criticize his dance moves but c’mon… let’s not call him Usher.

Kris Allen - "Apologize" by One Republic
This is Kara and Randy’s choice for Kris and Randy says that it’s a big song that he thinks caters to his vocal abilities.  The song definitely does suit Kris, though I would’ve liked to have seen him stray from the original a bit.  “Apologize” was one of the most overplayed songs on the radio last year so I had hoped for a new spin on it.  Still, it’s a very good performance and it’s easy to picture Kris as a solo artist once this thing is over.  Kara feels disappointed in his performance, but that’s just because she doesn’t want him in the finals.  Shut up, Kara.  Simon defends Kris and slams Kara for choosing the song, then criticizing Kris for the way he sang it.  Go Simon, go Simon, go!

Adam Lambert - "One" by U2
Simon chooses this song and I’m not surprised by it in the last.  It’s a huge song and Bono himself told Simon that it would be the band’s pleasure for Adam to sing the song.  Damn.  Alright, so I know that RealityWanted readers have felt like I have been hard on Adam so I’m going to try to get through this one being positive.  It’s actually not Adam that I have a problem with.  It’s that, at times, the judges refuse to see anyone but him in the competition.  That and I’m over his screaming.  Big time.  I tried to be positive for this one but I can’t do it.  I hate the arrangement but the judges love it.  Shocker.

Danny Gokey - "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
For the longest time, I felt like Danny and Adam had the finale in the bag.  Danny worries me a bit tonight.  The song gets off to a slow start but picks up towards the end.  However, this late in the game, every second of the song needs to blow people away and I’m not totally sure it did.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m still a Danny fan but I’m slowly starting to lean towards an Adam/Kris showdown.  The judges like what he did and Simon calls his performance a vocal master class.

Kris Allen - "Heartless" by Kanye West
This is exactly why I want this guy in the finale.  Kris Allen and Kanye West go together about as well as orange juice and toothpaste and yet, Kris comes up with arrangement that just blows me away.  He makes it his own and it’s brilliant.  I’d download this tomorrow… and I just might.  Randy calls it better than the original.  Big words, dog, big words.

Adam Lambert - "Cryin'" by Aerosmith

Here I am being positive.  This is an absolutely perfect song for Adam and of course, I think he deserves to be in the finals.  He absolutely nails his last song before everything is left up to America.  Randy calls him one of the best that they've ever had on the stage.  Fact.  Kara and Paula say they'll see him at the finale.  Simon says that no one should assume Adam will make it to the finale.  He's going to need the votes.  Adam's trying to gain some points back from the audience, after choosing sides two weeks ago during the elimination episode, and delivers high praise to Danny and Kris.  Smart guy.

Be sure to tune in to find out who will make the final two on American Idol’s live elimination show, tomorrow night at 9pm ET on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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