We got the Top 3 revealed to us, the three who are fortunate enough to get a “homecoming” next week on American Idol without it being one they don’t really want — the one signifying it’s the end of the line.
Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips are all headed to their hometowns for concerts and applause and comfort food and pomp and circumstance.
Hollie Cavanagh, however, was the low gal on the totem pole. Her time to leave. She’d been in the bottom of the pack on 5 previous instances. It was simply time to go.
But I’m going to state this without any give: Jessica Sanchez will not win American Idol. Her talent is undeniable … but all she can do is “diva.” She’s got pipes but she’s not the picture of an Idol. Phillip … Joshua … Hollie … Skylar … all have or had more “Idolness” in them than the diva Jessica is. I do my best to critique fairly, but even I know you can’t help having some of your personal likes and dislikes come to the surface when you’re invested in a show like this.
You see, Jessica is classic exotic good … better than good. But, to me, she’s not who should win. Is Phillip? In many ways, yes. His stuff is sometimes too personal and not commercial enough, but he’s got more “Idol” in him than Jessica. Skylar? She was perfect, marketability-wise. No doubt. Joshua? He’s got his niche, definitely. Hollie? Absolutely she had it. But, obviously, she didn’t have the fan base as this episode proved.
Long ago, I was worried Jessica would take this thing by storm, hands down. But here’s the deal: Every single time she’s gone out of her comfort zone, she’s choked. Maybe not much, but she’s done less than would normally be expected. Take the group songs or trios she’s been in: They’ve failed terribly. Hollie blew Jessica away the last few times she’s been paired up with her which I found very, very surprising given her abilities.
I don’t care if Jimmy Iovine sees all the “wowzah” in Jessica Sanchez or not. She doesn’t have the seasoning still needed to take hold of an Idol win.
But we go on from here. I’ll be glued to the television next week as the homecoming episodes are always — always — my favorites of the season.
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on May 11, 2012 @ 01:01 EST5EDT
I totally agree with you regarding Jessica. I did vote for Hollie the whole 2 hours but obviously it wasn’t enough. I am still don’t see Joshua selling albums to anyone but gospel song lovers but not pop. My vote is for Phillip. He is the only marketable one left. But as happens many times, you don’t have to win idol to do well.
Agreed, Hollie beat Jessica in duet and group work every single time. [Gotta give her two thumbs up for the group song. Hollie can cover Cass Elliot’s range better than any other singer’s she has tried.] Jessica needs seasoning.
Agreed, Joshua will have “niche” appeal in gospel. I’m seeing too much introvert in his character, however, to go up against Jimmy Irvine and shape an album that fits him.
Which leaves us with Phillip, the musician’s musician that America doesn’t seem to vote to the top. If he really was in third place tonight, [which, of course, we can never know] he has a lot to overcome to win the whole shooting match.
I predict a Jessica/Joshua finale, because that is the type of finale Idol seems to produce. But, like some previous seasons, the real talent finale night will be the return of the top ten. Can’t wait to see who they pair some of the “losers” with.
I’m hoping that Jessica or Joshua wins because I think that Phillip is horrible and should have been cut long, long ago. Joshua has an amazing voice that reminds me of great soul music of the past. And Jessica is simply amazing. Such a huge voice to come out of such a tiny little body! Yes I think performances are stiff and wooden sometimes, but that can be changed with the right coaching. When she is coached on how to move better, she will be incredible.
But then again… does it really matter who wins Idol anymore? It isn’t just the winners who make it big, and in recent years the winners have fizzled away to obscurity while the runner ups have shined.
I agree with Brooke about Jessica. Not all that long ago, although praises to the skies with the vocals…. the negative critiques of one contestant were…stiff, show little emotion on stage, stood and rocked hips back and forth, needed seasoning, was this contestant really marketable…etc., etc., etc. This contestant went on to win and in no time began to rake in awards right and left.. Still to this day, one of the negative critiques of Carrie Underwood is….she can be ‘stiff’ during her performances… Jsssst saying!
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
Good point, Mikki …