American Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Men’s Bracket)

 Ok gang….here we go!  Or should I say “Going, going, gone!”  It will be a steel-cage death match tonight as the guys fight it out to get into the final 12.  Wouldn’t that be fun?  That would be a real talent…being able to sing while being put in a sleeper hold, or while delivering a flying scissor kick.  I wonder who everyone would gang up on first?  Oh well, first out of the gate is:

• Luke Menard– Comes out of the gate doing his best impression of George Michael.  I’m not sure that’s an icon you really want to impersonate.  I’m really suprised the “force” is still with him and he’s still here.  I know that one of my readers is a Luke fan, but I’m just not seeing him make the next round.  I’ve predicted his departure every week so far.  Eventually I’ll be right.  It’s like the hypochondriac tombstone that says:  See, I told you I was sick.  Wake me up when he is gone-gone. 
• David Archuleta – I almost don’t want to like this kid, but I’m beginning to think he’s the genuine deal.  I don’t think his “aww shucks” personality is an act.  Gotta give him props.  Two weeks in a row, he’s taken on songs by HUGE artists, the Beatles & Phil Collins.  I don’t think he’s quite as good with this one, but he’s not a copy-cat singer, which I really dig about him.   My wife pegged his tendency toward slow songs though which Simon must have overheard. 
• Danny Noriega – Is it just me or does anyone else think he might should be in the girls competition?  His look, his movements, his attitude, it all just seems a bit too feminine for me…but hey, I’m old school.  I’d like to say ba-bye to Danny-boy, but I know we’re stuck with him.  He is FOR SURE this year’s Sinjuju. 
• David Hernandez – The guys got pipes…but COME ON DUDE…NOT a Celine Dion song!  What’s wrong with these guys?  I mean really…are there no dude songs?  Maybe I don’t remember music from the ’80s well enough, but there must have been some guys worth listening to back then.  Can’t believe that Randy actually liked the song choice.   But he’s still one of the better guys. 
• Michael Johns – The Australian dingo is at last doing a masculine song, plus it’s an Aussie throwback.  It was a great choice for him and suits him.  And while it was decent, it’s been a sort of downhill slide for me with him since he did Queens’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”.  Maybe it’s just that he set the bar so high, he’s having a hard time clearing it again.  But he will definitely be sticking around, and hopefully, the other guys will catch a clue about more manly songs.  (We can always hope, can’t we?)
• David Cook – This guy probably has the best edge to his voice, and this is just a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE song choice.  Sometimes you just have to make peace with who you are and what you’re capable of and not stray in wrong directions.  I don’t care what Randy and Paula say, I didn’t like it at all….and I would NEVER buy it.  OK, I’m batting 0-fer with the judges opinions, but I’m ok with that.  I like this guys voice, but hated the song.  I’ve made my stand. 
• Jason Castro – Another ho-hum song for tonight.  That’s not to say that they’re all bad.  They’re just not inspiring or fun.  The last “Hallelujah” though was a bit sad.  Another guy that I think will make it through, but I’m just not enjoying these guys at all.  Is there anyone out there (other than Paula of course) that is really digging the guys?  Cause I’m not getting it. 
• Cikezie (Cheez-It) – This guy rocked the house last week.  It looks like he’s trying to rock the baby to sleep tonight.  There must be something wrong with me.  In the words of Paul McCartney, “You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs”.   Maybe, just maybe, some day all the guys will show up and sing songs that have some guts and testosterone.  Until then, I’ll just keep on shouting “Man Up Already!”  Cheezit will be around, but he needs to be a bit crispier next time. 

GOING, GOING, GONE – Has to be Luke “May the force be with you as you leave” Menard; and if I’m lucky, Danny “More than a woman” Noriega. 

Your picks?