by Todd Betzold

Let's try this again...my American Idol predictions were way off last week, or were they? I still feel the whole debacle last week was staged...there is no way the bottom three could be Joshua Ledet, Elise Testone and Jessica Sanchez...there is no way! Jessica and Joshua are, by far, the two strongest vocally in the competition. The producers wanted the judges to use the save, so what other way to get people talking and interested than to make Jessica the bottom performer, but then let's use this storyline to promote her the following week after we use that save.

On last night's show, we got to see each singer perform two songs...one song from 2000 to today and then one soul song, as they paid tribute to Soul Train. The songs from the 2000s were done amazingly well, but then the soul songs just lacked something for me...most of them were boring...when Colton Dixon bores me, something is wrong! I loved his version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," but then fell asleep when he took on Earth, Wind & Fire...the girls and the gays will vote him into next week though. Joshua bored me with singing his own Idol, Fantasia...it was her winning song and no one can top that moment, but then he made up for it with his Sam Cooke song...very solid. Jessica came back strong...let's add to the bottom three drama and sing two songs that show so much emotion and the fight she has in her...just walk her right into the finals Idol.

The stars of the night: Skylar Laine and Phillip Phillips. Skylar has so much energy and spunk...it is just fun to watch her and she makes you want to get up there and dance with her. Phillip is just Phillip...he took on an Usher song and did it amazingly well. He's a guy and he's cute...the teen girls will be voting like crazy for him. Now for the bad...Hollie did well tonight (according to the judges, but not to me). She was good in her first song, but she has that powerful voice to take on Adele. She tried to have fun in the second song and it bored me...stick to ballads girl. Then Elise...I love this girl and thought she did well. Marvin Gaye is a classic to take on, but she did it justice in my eyes, but the judges weren't fans...they wanted emotion.

My predictions for the bottom three tonight: Elise, Hollie and Joshua. We are in the Top 7 and all these singers are amazing, so I don't want to see any of them go, but unfortunately we have to say goodbye to one of them every week for sure now. I think Joshua is strong, but I feel he doesn't have the appeal to voters as much as Colton and Phillip do. They will steal voters away from him. However, Ryan will tell him he is safe, so he can head back with the others. That leaves us with Hollie and Elise...not unfamiliar territory for these two. I think the story of Elise and her dog being sick and maybe not making it garnered up some votes for her, so she will be safe and Hollie will be headed home....finally. I have predicted her before and I am hoping her time finally comes. She has a great voice, but lacks the presence on stage compared to the others.

So, do you think I am wrong or do you totally agree with me? Leave me a comment with your predictions!

Find out if my predictions are correct tonight on American Idol at 8/7c on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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