by Todd Betzold

With only eight singers left on American Idol, writing up these predictions is getting harder and harder to do each week because I really don't want to see any of them go home. Well, there is one I would like to see go home, but unfortunately he is safe this week.

The Top 8 took on the 1980s last night and with a decade of some great songs to choose from it makes you wonder what some of them were thinking when they made their selection. Jessica Sanchez doing"How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston was horrendous (BB Chez needs to go back from where they came from) and Hollie Cavanagh singing "What A Feeling" by Irene Cara...these two are powerhouse ballad singers...stick to what you know and what you do well. I enjoyed Hollie's performance and she tried to have fun on stage, but the judges hated it and when you are down to eight singers left on Idol...not the time to take big chances.

It wasn't all bad last night though...Colton Dixon's rendition of "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper was amazing to me. He put his own twist on a song that is so familiar to many people...he is inching up the ranks as a favorite in this contest. Skylar Laine, who happened to be in the bottom three last week, took that scare of possibly going home and put those emotions into an excellent performance of "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler. She put her country twang into the song and showed a range in her vocals that I think won over many people. Also, Phillip Phillips was Phillip Phillips, so loved him and his performance. His duet with Elise Testone singing "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" by Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks not only was astounding and they were a perfect match for each other's voices, but I think it saved Elise for another week after a performance the judges were not too happy with.

Now to the business at hand...who will go home tonight, if anyone? Let's start with the bottom three this week: DeAndre Brackensick (the judges were totally in love with him last night, but I wasn't and this is a strong group of singers where he often gets overshadowed), Hollie (I thought she did well and showed a more fun side of her, but taking a chance at this stage in the game has hurt others before and I think it will hurt her tonight) and Elise (she has improved the last couple weeks and stayed out of the bottom three, but I think her performance last night, even though I enjoyed it and love her voice...it was not a favorite of the judges and I think she will be back in the bottom three). Despite the bad performance, she made up for it in her duet with Phillip and Elise will make a quick return to the other singers. That leaves us with DeAndre and Hollie in the bottom two...they sang a duet together last night and now they join each other in the bottom two. After some tense moments, Ryan will send DeAndre back with the other singers and Hollie is in danger of going home tonight. She will sing for her life, but it is still early in the competition and I think the judges want to keep the save for a later date. Hollie, I thought you made a solid attempt last night to show a different side of you, but I think it wasn't strong enough for American Idol and you are going home.

Do you think I am right? Who would you choose?

Find out the results tonight on American Idol at 8/7c on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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