Archuleta Sang 'Angel'
American Idol Results - "Idol Gives Back" hit town this week, but any competitor hoping for a slice of charity was in for a shock as the voters showed no charity toward one of the stronger challengers in the competition. The audience handed over in excess of $60 million in donations to worthy causes, but they also voted Michael Johns off the show in a decision that caught most on the hop except us who predicted a bottom three position for Johns. Johns rendition of Aerosmith's "Dream On" wasn't his strongest performance, leaving the judges as describing it as very 'wannabe' he therefore ended up in the bottom three, alongside Syesha Mercado and Carly Smithson, both who struggled with songs that were outside their vocal range. Ryan Seacrest called all three onstage and in a detour from the usual procedure didn't immediately send one to safety instead he recapped the judges' comments, then promptly informed both Mercado and Smithson that they'd survived, leaving a shocked Johns and an equally stunned live audience to absorb the information.Michael Johns could never have been expected to win Idol, portraying himself more in the Michael Hutchence genre with a future as lead singer on a band but his performances until Tuesday night had kept him free of the danger zone This was the week for surprises two singers who had been struggling came through with strong performances, Kristy Lee Cook, produced a stars performance and Jason Castro's perfect Somewhere Over A Rainbow put them back in the race, while front runner David Archuleta gave his usual strong effort.This put the pressure on the other five singers and although nobody sang poorly enough to get trashed by the judges, it was a question of which unmemorable average effort would be viewed less favourably than the rest. Favourite David Cook delivered a very poor effort indeed Johns was arguably delivered a better performance but he's been better throughout the competition and has built a fan base big enough to carry him through. Brooke White was bland boring and predictable and if she is to stay Brooke needs to seriously up her game next week and stop relying on the little girl lost sympathy vote.
Smithson and Mercado, however, have been vulnerable, with neither building a fan base large enough to feel secure, and either could have been on their way particularly considering their song choices.Mercado taking on a Fantasia - not a good idea, while Smithson performance was labelled 'angry' by Simon Cowell.
Though that said the fact that they are vulnerable may have saved them as their fans know they need every vote available to survive, unlike Johns fans who may have just become a little too complacent, or maybe it was he became 'forgettable, either way Michael Johns was sent packing.
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