Have you been watching this season of American Idol?  Clearly I have.  Maybe you’re not tuning in because of the new judges, but let me tell you that Steven Tyler could create a half-hour program of just his facial expressions during the performances.  They are priceless.

Every season I wait until the very last week to vote.  That’s right, I don’t vote until they’re down to the final two.  And usually I never feel the need to vote until it gets to that stage.  For example, Adam Lambert was my favorite from his season, and he sailed through to the finals, so I did not have to take the time to vote to keep him there.  Lee DeWyze – same thing.

But Casey Abrams is testing my resolve.

I thought for sure that Casey was just like Adam and Lee – practically untouchable until the finale.  I didn’t think I would even have to pay attention to the voting numbers until the finale.  But last week Casey you scared me!  You were eliminated, and then had to be saved by the judges.  (Which by the way was a fantastic 15 minutes of television, please go find it on YouTube if you get the chance).

Casey I can’t have this.  I can’t.  I can’t watch another bland, vanilla contestant like Kris Allen win.  So tonight I vote.  But you’d better perform.

Every year, I have some pretty intense opinions on American Idol, most of them having to do with the horrible song choices made.  If you don’t watch the show, the contestants have to pick their own songs (given that the show can get the rights to them).  And every single year about half the contestants broadcast their complete lack of originality in the songs they choose.  This seems to anger me in increasing proportion year after year.  So I decided to get out my frustrations and make a list of songs I would like banned from being sung on American Idol.

They are:

1. Alicia Keys – Fallin’
   Why does every bland white girl contestant think if she comes out and murders this song she will make it through to the finals?  DOES NOT WORK.
2. Alicia Keys – No One
   The judges like to use this one for group rounds a lot.  I wish they would stop.
3. Stevie Wonder – Superstition
   Great song, but no one does it good enough on the show.  It’s also very dated.
4. Ray LaMontagne – Trouble
   Stop ruining Ray LaMontagne for me.
5. Edwin McCain – I’ll Be
   Ugh, so vanilla.  Bland bland bland bland.
   
6. Miley Cyrus – The Climb
   It’s pretty terrible when you sing a song and someone thinks “hmmm, Miley Cyrus sang that better.”
7. Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On
   I think this song is pretty harmless, but that’s why you shouldn’t sing it.  It doesn’t do anything for you.
8. Cy Grant – Feeling Good
   I put this on the list because Adam Lambert killed it, so good luck trying to top him because you won’t.
9. Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway
   Everyone girl who chooses this song is killing it slowly.
10. Anything by Carrie Underwood that you choose to sing during “Country Week.”
    There’s really no better way to declare “I don’t care about country music” than to choose a Carrie Underwood song on country week.

Let me help you out for country week.  Because this is the week that makes me cringe.  I don’t know why everyone thinks they have to sing Carrie Underwood, John Denver, Garth Brooks, or Johnny Cash.  Do they not know there are people making country music today that is actually decent music?  Here are a few songs I would LOVE to hear on country week:

1. Dierks Bentley – Draw Me a Map
2. David Nail – Mississippi
3. Nickel Creek – Helena
4. Toby Keith – God Love Her
5. Darius Rucker – Forever Road

I would legitimately consider bribing Casey Abrams to sing Helena while playing the upright bass.  The only problem is you have to wait until the last couple of rounds because the “ZOMG” effect of that song is completely lost if you don’t sing each and every verse.  And on that note can we just give the title to Casey Abrams already?